Tag Archive for: New York City

Why I’m Never Going to a Nail Salon Again

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English: Beauty and nail polish salon. Havana ...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I read an article in the New York Times about the exploitation of migrant workers in nail salons last week. I shared the article on Facebook immediately because I wanted more people to know about it.  I was pretty shocked and horrified to hear about something I had been such an active participant in. I’ve been getting my nails done pretty regularly ever since I can remember. I’ve always over-tipped, as I felt like the manicurists were probably not receiving an excellent wage, but I had no idea of the extent of the problem.

The article explains how many workers are not paid a daily rate and rely solely on tips. Some of them don’t even get to keep those tips and are living in such terrible living conditions. Others explain how lucky they are to make $30 a day. I was blown away when I read this. Read more

An Organized Closet Organizes Your Mind

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pantry I’ve already revealed the challenges that I had buying my first apartment and moving into it in New York City. However – one of the highlights was being able to organize the space from scratch so it works efficiently for me and my hubby Jay. He shares my affinity for everything having a place. Of course, looking for an apartment in New York City is a lot more straightforward than it is now and we didn’t really have coliving spaces similar to Urbanests to call back on.

When we were searching for an apartment we would get so excited when we found one that had really organized closets. So we vowed that when we got a place of our own we would do the same.

So one of the really great improvements we made during the renovation of our apartment was to go totally wild in The Container Store.

If you don’t know about this store — you must. It’s a staple for anyone who loves organizational stuff or simply needs a little bit of help keeping things together. They have a line of closet shelving called “elfa” and we used it throughout our home in every single closet.

Here are my highlights: Read more

The Story I Was Never Going to Tell

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I didn’t want to write this post. I’ve been putting it off for months. Part of me still doesn’t want to admit this actually happened to me. And I really never wanted to admit it to anyone. But the truth is — the recent purchase of our first apartment, renovation of said apartment and the act of moving into it, shattered me.

January 21st marks exactly one year that my husband and I closed on our co-op in Manhattan. And so I thought it finally fitting to talk about my experience.

I’m known for having my act together, being organized, thinking on my feet, problem solving in my sleep and being productive and efficient. I mean — I’ve dedicated this blog to these things and even wrote an entire book on the subject!

But I was none of these things during this time period. I was literally frozen, paralyzed and I felt pretty helpless.

I’m not typically dramatic and as a journalist – I’m very good at just stating the facts. But I’m also an optimist and that got in my way for sure. Read more

List Rehab at My Book Signing

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Photo Jan 16, 7 13 24 AMOn Thursday I had my first ever book signing for Listful Thinking in a brand-new indie bookstore here in NYC. Earlier in the week I was pretty nervous about the whole event. I couldn’t stop worrying about who might show up and what questions they might ask.

But when Thursday night came around I actually ended up having a lot of fun. Nearly 60 people showed up and at one point it was standing room only! It was so great to talk with everyone.

Some people even brought their lists for me to check!

I also got asked some great questions that I thought I would share with you: Read more

5 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Instantly

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confidenceEven the best ideas can sometimes fall apart when they are presented with doubt and anxiety. In fact, a confident presentation style can sometimes be just as important as the ideas being presented. While believing in yourself and in your plans is easier said then done, luckily there are ways to trick yourself into feeling more confident.

1. How You Stand – At a recent TED talk, Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, suggested that standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain.  it might even have an impact on our chances for success. Stand in a power pose, with your hands on your hips to feel more in command of a situation. Read more