NEW YORK CITY - A DAY WITH ME

'I can't with any good conscience argue for New York with anyone. It's like calcutta. But I love the city in an emotional, irrational way,like loving your mother or your father even though they're a drunk or a thief. I've loved the city my whole life—to me, it's like a great woman.' Woody Allen

I wish you'd been here today to spend the day with me. It is what we'd call a perfect day of 'nonents'. 'If Taylor swift can live in New York', just think of what we could do!

I woke up 45 minutes later after my alarm clock had gone off. Was it deliberate? We both know the answer to that, so let's not commit to the truth.

You know how having a life in New York is often portrayed as glamorous, pearls and fur coats? Well it is and it's not but knowing you, that's something that would be totally disinteresting. I know you'd only love this city because I do, the same way you love F.R.I.E.N.D.S because I do. Wait, am not sure if you love friends or just tolerate it for my sake. All I'm saying is had you been here, you'd tolerate the city at first for my sake and then you'd ashamedly fall in love with it. 

Lexington - 60th street

Well if you must know, today I lived quite the no-sex and the city kind of life. It had been the longest time since I stepped into a store. Remember that one time you got angry at me for harassing you into a dress? I'm sure you'd have supported my irrationality today. We've already established that my account is somewhat bipolar. I found these jeans and although am prone to exaggeration, they were to live for! Of course they didn't have my size! How many 28s are there in this city?

So I talked to my body to squeeze into them, and they fit but I can't say for sure if that zipper or button will stay intact. Either way, mama Joyce says we should eat the cookie and buy the shoe. So I took the jeans home with me. Hashtag I got a bae-jean. I'm sure I'm going to regret it sometime after I go to coldstone creamery but we are worth it. I miss saying that to you every time you needed an excuse to indulge just a little.

You- should I get this fourth pair of brown shoes that looks exactly like the other three I own 

Me- yes, you are with it.

Midtown - 42nd street

Here's the thing am not sure if you'd like Broadway and theatre as much as I do. I know you like lion king and moulin rouge but aside from those two, am not sure how you'd care for such. 

I know you'd be judging me for spending my day like I was at Disney. Why are people at the mall at 11am? We always found it strange for non school going adults to be at the mall so early in the day. Am not sure that concept has ever settled well with us.

Well today I mentally transformed into Blair Waldorf. I found refreshments at the theatre and the best part was that they were free. I didn't hesitate in my step and went straight for them. Turns out, those refreshments were meant to be served at the end of the shows. I think I should have been embarrassed but I wasn't because once I went for the cookies, everybody rushed behind me. They were all famished. I felt like Martin Luther king (not to take anything from him) but I led the cookie movement. (Great I have already forgotten about those small fitting jeans)

I love theatre, love love love theatre. It takes me away. For that moment I'm in a different place-mentally, maybe I understand actors more now. Sometimes people would rather live in make belief, take on another character once the other becomes relatable. I don't know, it's only a thought. I do like my life though, it is a great life and of course Emma Watson will act as me in my life movie. She will need a lot of NC 50 powder.

30W Broadway

This place reminds me of Luwum street so when I hesitate to go with you on your errands it's because I know how it feels to be stepped on, and to keep looking over your shoulder. This street requires strength, but the thing about New York, it gives you strength for anything. You should have seen the size of the carry bags I had to carry. It almost looked animated. Two big black bags weighing me down. You'd be so proud to know that I refuse to take taxis unless I'm in 6-ft high heels. I know how much you despise frivolous spending. There I was with three bags in arm, sweating like a world champ wrestler, the only thing glamorous being my pink nail polish and the scent of my perfume. 

2666 Broadway - Upper West Side

That's the thing about NY, it's two worlds in one. It demands two things.

1. WORK

2. LIVE 

I know you would have liked today a lot. Maybe when you do come, we can have our ,you and I take over New York City.,

Open letter: The Need To Declutter

I have received such positive views with the open letters, so I thought I would write one tonight. I apologize for being MIA in February. I actually didn't notice that I had not written at all that month. Well, I guess this post sure is a sign that I need to unplug and reprioritize. 

Open letter

Oh My Life, can you believe it’s March? How long was February though? What was going on with that? I am so excited that we are springing forward this weekend. I come alive in Springtime! Two words to describe winter – Positively Exhausting!

Ever feel like you’ve neglected yourself? Your room is a mess, you haven’t had regular breakfast in a while, your clothes are horrible (I mean I actually wore a rose colored skirt, pantyhose, knee high socks and wait for it...UGGS), and the only thing you have together is your sleep schedule? You too?  Glad I am not the only one. I have neglected myself these past two months and I want to rectify that this month. 

I have made up my mind to disconnect. I know we live in a rapid, instant world and we need our apps and emails and tweets, but I need this for myself. I need to breathe. I am begging me for it.

I need to be present.  I need to remember things. I need to put myself in order. I need to declutter. I need to be on top of stuff not underneath it. I need to veet my legs!!!

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and you think this is something that might help you out but you don’t know what to do, well I have a few ideas of what I’m going to do, feel free to get ideas from these.

The first step is to find a day or days that work for you and then DO IT. Just unplug for a while. With all the constant demand for an instant reaction, it gives things false urgency. Like if you do not respond to a text, the world is going to crumble. I have found myself in that position, where I’m like ‘what took you so long to reply my texts? You literally read it two minutes after I sent it and you’re responding after 5 minutes. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?’ I need this, I need to unplug before I become a needy hen.

Activities for my unplug time.

I’m going to take longer baths; my bathroom faces Manhattan, at night the lights come on, and the skyline is reflected on the Hudson River.  It is literary the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  I’ll be having more of those soaks while listening to some Billy Paul.

What else will I do? I’m going to eat ice cream. I have been in a steady relationship with ice cream for 20 something years. I need to rekindle that and keep things spiced up. I bless the parents of the minds behind whole foods. 'I thank you for giving birth to such brilliant minds.' I could never express eloquently what their ice cream has done for my life. Oh wow, things suddenly just got deep.

Clean my room, yes that should have been first on my list of to do things. I know that once I actually get all the clothes to their right place, all will fall in order. I will even put some fresh flowers to set the room mood and atmosphere. I have this vintage looking vase that I bought for one dollar in the $0.99 store and it has been begging me to put it to good use. You’ll be amazed at what you can find in that store. I think they actually sell cats too (That's false). This vase is unbreakable. Well worth my hard earned monies.

Send out those birthday mails from last year. I am that person who sends gifts five months after the day of the birthday. I am not sure why I take so long, when the post is literally across the road from my home. Also known as ‘see…the way my account is set up’

Take out my braids that have been borderline nightmare-ish. I actually regret having them, because I didn’t take as many selfies as I had expected (because that’s what you do when you get braids). They just made my head heavy for no good reason. Between my braids and NJ-NY public transportation, am not sure which one I dislike more. It is a very stiff competition.

I hope to reprioritise where necessary, be more organised, and balanced from that time off. I think it’s going to be really quiet but rewarding. I can hardly wait to start. 

Miscellaneous

'Women need to hear from other women'. I am all about supporting women and girls to achieve their dreams and help others on their way up. I would like to thank WomenWerk for recognizing, creating a platform and promoting women led businesses. 

This Sunday is International Women’s Day and Eve and Nico Crafts and Home Décor will be at New York University, Global Centre, 238 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012.

I have also been tirelessly working on this amazing website www.eveandnico.com do check it out.

Pinterest: @handmadeDecorNY

Instagram: @eveandniconyc

Twitter: @EveandNicoNYC

Facebook: Eve and Nico Crafts and Home Décor