So, BIG news over on the blog today. It's with a lot of excitement/tears/let's be real... alllll of the feels that I announce I've decided to say farewell to NYC. It's been a really tough decision and one I've gone back and forth in my head for years on. After almost 7 years in the city and 10 years living out of state though, it's time to get back to my roots.

Personally, I think what's even scarier than making a decision is actually living through the pain and heartache of the process. It's often not the decision that holds us back, ultimately we know what we want, but actually living through the process to make that decision a reality that is so tough. Especially when others are involved. I hate hurting or disappointing others and this one is a double whammy on all accounts.

Year after year, I tried, and semi-successfully, convinced myself that I could be 100% happy in NYC. And I really thought I could be. After all, I'd built an awesome life, had the most amazing people in my life, and things had really lined up the way I wanted. Especially after I started my own business and was able to go coast-to-coast more. Instead of feeling content with the back and forth though, I just found myself yearning for more time. Those what ifs and thoughts of future regret will crush you though, and sometimes you just can't convince your head and your heart that you want the same thing.

I will forever be thankful for all of my time in the city and this will always be a chapter I'll look back on fondly. I've taken risks. I've loved. I've grown. I've met some of my absolute favorite people. I've both lost and found myself. This city has shaped the person I've become so much and it's going to be really tough to say goodbye.

So what's next? A hot date with a lot of moving details and 2,800 miles to think about if I made the right decision. Truthfully though, while I'm both sad and nervous, I am also really excited for the future. I'm excited to keep expanding my business at Bold & Pop, I'm excited for new adventures (and a lot more outdoors!), I'm excited to drive again, I'm excited to reconnect with some of my best friends, and most of all I'm excited to be a few minutes vs a 6-hour flight home from family. 

Washington, I'm coming home for keeps.

Just when we were starting to wonder if the weather was ever going to warm up (or stop raining for that matter), BAM 💥 summer arrived. I have a kind of love/hate relationship with summer. In the dead of winter there's nothing I want more than the sunshine, and then when it finally comes I'm wishing for cooler days. Does that make me an official New Yorker now?! Haha, jokes aside I am looking forward to picnics in Cental Park and rooftop drinks. So today I'm sharing some tips to survive summer in the city without looking like a melted popsicle. Because while I love popsicles, I don't want to look like one.

Use Melt-proof Makeup

Add a little heat + humidity and what do you get? Makeup melt city! I have oily skin to begin with so finding makeup that will actually stay on my face all day is always a struggle. Add that summer factor and it turns into mission impossible. I was recently introduced to the cosmetic brand Paul & Joe though, so I decided I'd put it to the test.

I have to say their Perfect Makeup Primer, Gel Foundation, and Pressed Powder are quickly becoming some of my favorite products in my makeup bag. I've been using the primer and gel foundation as my daily go-to's and these two make a killer combination. Together they've already gotten me through some 90+ degree days. I really like the gel foundation too because it has a different texture than some of the other products I've tried. It's a great combination of feeling light (a must in the summer) while also providing enough coverage. I've also been packing the pressed powder in my purse, which is the perfect addition for touch-ups -- especially after coming out of the subway. With any makeup in the summer, you usually want to tone it down a little and these products have kept my face looking fresh without feeling like it's heavy.

I've also become quite the lipstick addict in the last year. Something about a little lipstick just takes your look up a notch. I'm really into red but have also fallen in love with the Pink Balloon option, also from Paul & Joe. It's very Barbie pink looking, but it actually has more of a sheer look leaving your lips looking dewey. Perfectttt for summer!

Switch up Your Shampoo

Not that your face is under control, let's move onto your hair. Along with oily skin, I also have oily hair.. thanks genetics! So add some extra sweat and my hair can end up being a big 'ol greasy mess. Cute right? If you can relate you may definitely want to consider switching up your shampoo in the summer. Generally what I like to do is alternate between products a couple of times a week because it seems to help with keeping my strands extra clean. Sometimes I like to use a clarifying shampoo, but I'm also someone who colors their hair it's not always great to use it a lot. One brand I've really fallen in love with lately is Evo. It smells absolutely amazing and doesn't have a lot the yucky ingredients that a lot of other products do. Say bye bye sulphate, parabens, and all of that other junk.

Step Away from the Hairdryer

If we're being totally honest here, having long hair in the summer you can pretty much count that my hair is either in a top knot or some sort of braid. My hairdryer definitely goes on vacation for a few months. On those lucky days where the temps stay belong 80 though it's nice to let your hair down.. literally. On those days I have two go-to's. The first is Suave's dry shampoo. I pretty much buy this by the case and it's even more necessary in the summer. One subway trip and your hair can take a beating in the summer so it's nice to perk your hair up a little mid-day or for evening outtings. I've tried just about every dry shampoo on the market and this is one of my favorites and is also one of the cheapest ones. Score! 

Another product I love is Evo's Construction Cream. This product is great when I'm going for a casual beach hair look or soft curls. Normally, I shower in the morning, but in the summer I'll often shower at night and let me hair air dry overnight. The only downfall to that is I can get some pretty crazy kinks in my hair. This product is great though because it gives my hair a little more body so that any crazy kinks look totally intentional.  It really gives the perfect amount of texture without weighing it down! As with the brand's shampoo, this product smells amazing too! Double win!

That Cute Outfit.. it Better be Sweat-proof!

My outfits in the summer are entirely picked based on how sweat-proof they are. It only takes one summer of living in NYC to learn the parts of your body you didn't think it was possible to sweat. Who knew the back of your knees and wrists could sweat 😱 Gross? Oh totally, but also SO true. So if there's one final tip I will share it's that you may want to consider that when you pick out your outfit on those extra hot days. I'm sorry, I don't care how cute that cotton grey or light blue maxi skirt is.. it's not happening on that 95-degree day. I'm all about breathable fabrics and airy dresses. Keeping cool, while styling along the way!

Do you have any other must-know tips for surviving the summer in the city? I'd love to hear them in the comments below!

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**Disclaimer: Paul & Joe and Evo provided me with complimentary samples of their products to test out. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the product and has not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.

I may live in the city that never sleeps, but that doesn't mean we don't need it! Although sometimes I wish we didn't because I could use some extra hours in the day! 😉 The truth is I am SUCH a night owl, and that trend has only gotten worse since becoming an entrepreneur. I mean how can I shut my laptop down when I get hit with an awesome idea at midnight...?? Spoiler... I don't and then I stay up until the wee hours of the night. Yeah, about that. So one of my goals for 2017 has been to work on going to a bed at a decent hour and trying to get some quality rest! Maybe that sounds like a funny goal to have but the struggle is real! I've been making some great progress so far too so today I'm sharing some of the changes I have made and hopefully some will help you too!

Going to Bed at a Consistent Time

Most people have alarms set for getting up in the morning.. well, I also have one for going to bed. I'm really great at finding any reason possible to not go to bed so setting an alarm helps get me to that first step... actually getting into bed! Setting an alarm has been super helpful in helping me at least start to power down for the night.

Black-Out Curtains

Surprisingly enough, my neighborhood in the city is pretty quiet. Go Upper East Side! Plus our apartment is on the back of the building which really helps. The most distracting part of getting to sleep for me isn't sound, but rather the lights! No matter what time it is, there is always someone who has their lights on. So to combat this issue I picked up a set of black-out curtains and wa-lah our bedroom is officially as dark as a cave at night. On top of being a night owl, I also have a tough time falling asleep so this has really helped a lot!

Leaving the Phone out of the Bedroom

This tip has been so key for me! After working in the PR industry for so many years I felt like my phone had to be glued to my hand at all times. It was the last thing I looked at before I went to bed and the first thing I looked at in the morning, which was so draining and pretty terrible for my sleep. You know the Vick's commercial about replying to emails in her sleep? Let's just say that hits close to home 😂. Now that I'm on my own, I've found a better balance for my client relationships and it turns out no one has died from not hearing from me in the middle of the night! Plus, now when I go to bed, I actually go to bed instead of wasting another hour on Instagram or whatever else on my phone. If you can leave your phone and other sleep distractions outside of your bedroom, do it!

Quality Bedding

Another thing that is so important to getting a good night's rest is quality bedding! I mean we do spend a third of our lives asleep after all! The awesome people over at Live Comfortably sent me a bed set complete with a mattress pad, pillows and a comforter to make my bed a little cozier and boy did it ever! In general I'm not a very picky person, but as you may have noticed from this post sleep is the one exception to that rule!

That being said, I must admit I've been super impressed with their products so far. Sometimes new pillows can take a while to break in and are a little firm, but their pillows were the perfect balance of support and fluffiness right out of the bag (which btw, when pillows come in their own zipped bags you know they're legit. True story, when we were making the bed with everything, Chris grabbed the pillow, curled up on the bed and tried to get out of helping with the rest because he didn't want to give it up. So I'd say he's definitely a fan too! 

My mattress was pretty comfy already, but the mattress pad has added an extra layer of comfiness too which is fabulous. Another bonus of the mattress pad is it has actually helped keep our sheets on a little better too. I don't know what crazy ninja moves Chris does in his sleep but he always manages to pull the sheets off the corners of his side of the bed so this has been a nice bonus. I'm also loving the new comforter! The weight is a great combination of being warm enough for our cold winters, but not overly heavy. Which is perfect because we should be able to use it year-round instead of having to swap things out. Def a perk when you're living in a small apt with limited storage! One of my favorite features is that it has sewn sections so that the fill remains even throughout! No one wants a lumpy comforter right!? 

All and all, after testing out the products for a week or so I can already feel the difference quality bedding can make. Plus, now that my bed feels like a big fluffy cloud it will definitely entice me a little bit more to actually go to bed.I'd definitely recommend checking out Live Comfortably if you're looking to upgrade and get a better night's sleep! 

Putting Your Clock out of Sight

Last but not least, I suggest putting your clock out of sight. This one might not be for everyone.. but for me it has really helped! When I couldn't sleep I'd just stare at the clock and count the hours of sleep I'd get if I fell asleep at that moment. Maybe I'm the only crazy person who has done this, but just in case I'm not give this tip a try! All that I do is rotate my clock to the side when I get into bed so that I can't see the numbers. Or if you have the luxury of living in an apt bigger than our little NYC apartment, you could also move your clock across the room. I know it sounds silly, but not having a clock stare at you in the face can help ease your stress and help you get to sleep faster. 

And there you have it, my tips for getting a better night's sleep! Making sleep a priority has already made such a difference for me and hope it will do the same for you!

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**Disclaimer: Live Comfortably provided me with a complimentary bed set in exchange for a review for their products. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the product and has not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.

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