NYC: 5 Queens Bars to Support

New York City is slowly starting to open up. The streets aren’t filled with its usual hustle and bustle but the locals are slowly starting to reemerge. It’s bittersweet to be “allowed” back outside and back to our routines. Personally, I still have reservations about these phases and want to do as much as possible to support the local businesses in my borough. One of the ways I plan to continue to support my favorite spots is through to-go cocktails.

It’s turn into a somewhat ritual, where someone in our pod will collect orders, head out to the bar of choice, and the others organize appetizers for Happy Hour. It’s not as rambunctious as I remember them previously being but it’s still fun to break up the WFH day with friends and drinks.

If you’re in Queens, or wanting to take a trip, here are the 5 bars you need to check out:

As always, please call ahead to make sure they’re open. Times are weird!

Let me know if you ended up checking any of these out or if there are some names I should add to the list.

The Essentials: June 2020

Please note: this blog post was written before May 25th and do not reflect the current Black Lives Matter movement, which I 100% support.

It’s been a minute and LOTS has happened. My grandstand plans of restarting my blog, trying to excel on my career path, and training for two half marathons have all come to a screeching halt due to a pandemic. It’s a wild time to be alive.

The only thing we can do is take it day by day and practice kindness along with gratitude. And for those of you that are coping with a mental illness or disorder—I am right there with you. My PTSD symptoms have gone into overdrive but somehow a mindful routine invites moments of chill. I can go on and on but we’ll get more candid later this month.

Onto lighter topics, like skincare and wellness favorites you might enjoy for June or at-home spa days.

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Hair: To be honest, my wash days have been few and far. But, after one too many matted knots I’ve made the conscious effort to at least try to put my best curls forward to feel better. I’m not alone in this thinking either, 54% of Americans agree that having a good hair day will put them in a better mood. Amika’s Nice Cream is a fantastic cleansing conditioner that provides enough slip to get out the gnarliest knots, gives my curls a moisture boost, and good-for-strands ingredients. I will say, that the scent is very fragrant (I love it) and similar to all co-washes a deep scalp cleanse is necessary at least 1x a week. Here’s a scalp cleanser I’m currently testing and so far love.

Face: There are always so many products when it comes to this category so it’s probably best that I start in the order of application 🙂

  • Theo Sterling’s Skin Clarifying And Probiotic Balancing Mist is a new face on the natural skincare scene. It’s made with three ingredients (purified water, Epsom salt, and a probiotic blend) to effectively tame blemished skin. It’s a luxury item but backed with their research to clarify skin.

  • After misting, I’ll do one or two layers of serum. After realizing Vitamin C serum does more harm than good during my AM routine I decided to swap it out for a serum that’s packed with antioxidants instead. After browsing at my local Target, I left with bliss glow & hydrate day serum. It not only contains antioxidants but also Niacinamide, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to help improve blemishes, brighten skin, and show off radiant skin. The formula is super light and works. The packaging is cute too!

  • Even though we’re in quarantine I’ve been applying my organic sunscreen every single day! Unless you work in a cave you should be doing the same. One that I love for running or barefaced moments is COOLA's Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 White Tea. It’s never stung my eyes from sweat runoff, left a white cast, and is perfect for sensitive skin. A cabinet favorite!

  • As for those 1x a week treatment, I’ve fallen in love with Youth to the People Superfood Skin Reset Antioxidant Mask. Think of it as your reset mask used best on Sunday nights for a fresh week glow. Aveda’s tulasāra™ wedding masque eye overnight is another one the whole world needs to seriously try. It’s thick, rich, and leaves eyes so refreshed in the morning. Not sure why my lips have been a little drier this past month but innisfree’s Lip Sleeping Mask with Green Tea goes beyond lip balm. The 99.9 percent naturally-derived mask moisturizes and nourishes dry lips with Jeju green tea powder and seed oil. It also helps lips retain moisture.

Body: Since we’re in quarantine, I decided to make the transition over to natural deodorant. It felt less risky that way. I got a ton of natural deodorants from one of my favorite shops CredoBeauty.com. The first one I decided to try was from Ursa Major, due to the 4.5-star rating and familiar stick design, and it went better than expected. If you're curious about making the job make sure to read this helpful article!

Since PR companies noticed my pivot into the world of clean beauty, I was sent samples from the Bare Republic. Their Mineral SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Stick, in particular, stood out because it’s purse and reef friendly. You can honestly slip into your back pocket and go. The coconut scent is a plus too! Another absolute favorite that was sent my way was Herbivore’s Jasmine Body Oil. You guys… the scent was intoxicating.

If you’re not dealing with Bacne feel free to skip this part. Everyone else, join the party! It’s a bit lacking when it comes to this category and the products are usually a miss. So I was very excited to learn that Sandra Lee MD, aka Dr. Pimple Popper, crafted a body spray with maximum strength Salicylic Acid for our hard to reach spots. I’ve been using the spray for the past month and noticed a big reduction in clogged pores and zits.

Wellness: This is a new inclusion in our monthly essentials but I think it’s fitting to include supplements, vitamins, and tinctures that helped my everyday routine. At 26, I decided to get off prescription medication, like Adderall, since it caused more harm than good. It also made me feel like a shell of a human. Unfortunately, I still had to deal with ADD. And let me tell ya, there’s no amount of coffee or caffeine pills to help with ADD. Lucky us, cannabis has been decriminalized and a plethora of medicines and supplements have been created to assist. After lots of research and reviews, I decided to try out Plant People’s Stay Sharp. It uses hemp extract, herbal nootropics, and adaptogens to improve focus and mental clarity. There are no jitters. You don’t feel stoned. Just calm and focused which is a godsend. There are a few more CBD products I’ve discovered and can’t wait to bring them all up soon!

Did you discover any new products during quarantine? Let me know in the comments!

Shop my essentials below:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine* // eleven // twelve // thirteen
*numbered them incorrectly… whoops!

NYC: 8 Things to Do This Winter

At the start of any fresh year, I would normally list out my resolutions and goals. Sometimes they’re practical but usually, they’re a little too ambitious and one too many. This year I won’t be sharing my 2020 goals but instead continue to work on my finances, my home, creativity, and wellness.

Keeping that in mind, I’m sharing eight things anyone and everyone can participate during this warm winter.

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1. Go Ice Skating
There’s an ice skating rink in nearly every borough so there’s no excuse to not venture out to one. Plus, getting in the rink is so much fun! It’s the perfect date idea, good for groups, and a sure-fire way to make memories and laughter. Pro Tip: Bring your own skates so you can avoid paying rental fees + it’s a bit more sanitary.

2. Take a Day Trip to Belleayre Mountain
Put on your Heat Tech layers, ski coat, and take a day trip up to the Mountains for a day filled with skiing or snowboarding. Compared to Hunter Mountain it’s less crowded and more affordable. If you’re a beginner, like me, you could rent equipment and practice on the Bunny Slopes. And once you tire out head to the Ski Lodge for a drink or two. Spoiler alert: you will need a car for this.

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3. Warm Up with Ramen
This city is filled with amazing cuisines, one of them being Ramen. The spots I love are pretty small and can quickly fill out so I highly recommend showing up at least 30 minutes before the doors open for dinner. It’s recommended, because of the size of most ramen restaurants, that you dine solo or bring a friend but more than three people might cause a longer wait. A few spots I recommend: Ippudo, Totto Ramen, and Mu Ramen.

4. Cheer on the New York Rangers
There’s something wild about Hockey. I’m not sure if it’s the crowd, the chanting, or the fighting but whatever it is - it’s working. My partner and I have tickets to catch a game later this month and I am SO EXCITED.

5. Join a Studio and Participate in Their January Challenge
At the start of every year, all fitness studios start their membership challenges. Pick one and commit! It’s a great way to learn all the poses for a class, meet new people, and get into a healthy habit. A few studios I love without a doubt are Barre3, Y7 Studio, Fhitting Room, and SLT.

Not ready to commit to a full month just yet? Then sign up for a Classpass membership for studio flexibility.

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6. Spend the Day Visiting Local Breweries
NYC has been blessed with a micro-brewery renaissance and it’s freaking amazing. We no longer have to ride out to Hudson Valley for a good pour! Instead, hop on the 7 or L train and have a DAY with friends. Some are even situated next to other spots, ahem, the LIC trifecta.

7. Have a Spa Day at Spa Castle
Spa Castle is somewhat of a local gem in Flushing, Queens. It’s a couple of floors that house saunas, specialized massages, various pools, and an eatery. They regularly host discounts on groupons but as an insider, it’s best to visit during the weekday when there’s less foot traffic.

8. Spend the Day Reading Indoors
And for those days that are blistering cold…skip the outdoors and stay indoors curled up with a good book and a weighted blanket. Goodreads and NYPL regularly release lists of must-reads or you can pick up the book I’m currently reading now, The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

If you loved this post then you might enjoy my other NYC posts!