WHY YOU SHOULD EMBRACE BEING SINGLE ON VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day is all about LOVE, right?! Wrong. It's mostly about the pressure of buying the right gift for your significant other along with planning the perfect night and the stress of what to wear for said perfect night. But not this year. Because you're SINGLE. Before you start to drown your feelings in that bottle of wine. Here are some reasons why you should absolutely embrace your SINGLENESS this Valentine's Day. 

Image via MyDomaine.com

Do You

You can stay home and binge Netflix while eating Ben & Jerry's in bed. You can have an at home spa night. You can meet up with your girlfriends for brunch and consume bottomless mimosas. Or you can have a Girl's Night Out in celebration of Galentine's Day. The point is that you can do anything you want without the pressure of it being the perfectly planned out.

Indulge

Eat all the chocolate you want. Judgement FREE. So make sure to stock up on all those heart shaped boxes of chocolates. Or you could go all out like Miranda, in that one episode of 'Sex and The City' where she bakes a whole chocolate cake, grabs a fork and never looks back. 

Wine about it

If all else fails, there’s always WINE. Go ahead and break out that expensive bottle of wine you've been saving for a special occasion. After all, you are celebrating your singleness. . CHEERS! 

Grab your Girls

Because being single doesn't mean you're alone. You have amazing friends and an amazing life that a guy would only be lucky enough to be a part of. Call your girlfriends, let them know how much you love and appreciate them being in your life. Invite them to brunch or a day of shopping and celebrate your friendships.

Image via Pinterest

To all my SINGLE LADIES: Embrace your SINGLENESS. And treat yo' self to the Valentine's Day you deserve. 

How will you be celebrating this year?!

XO, Rae

8 GIFTS GIRLS REALLY WANT FOR Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. And if you’re in need of some gift ideas for your Sister, Best Friend or Girlfriends….here are some ideas any GAL is sure to LOVE! And if you're a SINGLE gal, like ME. Why not treat yourself to a gift along with the chocolate and bottle of wine you plan to consume on Valentine's Day. No judgement here.

And GUYS, if you’re reading this, take notes! Your lady may have sent this to you as a hint on what to get her this Valentine’s Day!

1. Professional Glam Session

Who doesn’t love having their makeup done by a professional?! Or a blowout at DryBar? And thanks to companies like Glam Squad, beauty services can be booked easily and take place in the comfort of your home. This would make a great gift for the Gal who’s deserving of some pampering but maybe doesn't have a lot of time in her busy schedule.

2. Spa Day

A spa day is the ultimate gift with treatments from facials to massages and anything in between. Book Solo or as a Couples Massage, or even as a Girls Day of pampering. Not sure which Spa to book? Try Spafinder to purchase a gift card that can be used for local spas.

3. Hand Written Card

A handwritten note is always a good idea, especially for your long distance friends. I always like to send cards to my closest Girlfriends for Galentine’s Day. Just to remind them that I’m thinking of them and appreciate their friendship. If you like cards with funny sayings, check out Chez Gagné (one of my favorite online print shops).

4. Weekend Getaway

GUYS: Nothing says “I love you” more than a romantic getaway. And she will swoon over the fact that you planned it all by yourself. Think of places she has always wanted to travel to or places that are meaningful to the both of you!

LADIES: If you have any friends that are Moms, they could most likely use a weekend away or a Staycation somewhere nearby. Make it a GIRLS WEEKEND and invite all your mutual gal pals.

5. Jewelry

For the accessory lover. Jewelry is one of those gifts that can be simple, like a fun pair of statement earrings or can be sentimental, like jewelry that’s personalized. Kendra Scott literally has something for everyone! And I also love Alex and Ani bracelets to give as gifts.

6. Sweet Treats

You can never go wrong with chocolate. Whether it’s her favorite cookies, cake or cupcakes. Or maybe even a baking class? If you’re local to NYC, Butter Lane Cupcakes offers baking & decorating classes as well as Milk Bar.

7. Wine

When in doubt, give the gift of WINE. Treat her to her favorite bottle of red, white or bubbles. And if she really enjoys wine, a wine subscription makes a great gift.  What girl wouldn't love wine just showing up on her doorstep every month?!

8. An Experience

Sometimes the best gifts aren’t gifts at all, but rather an experience. Like taking a Cooking Class, a day pass to a Museum exhibit, Concert tickets to her favorite band/artist or even a night out to a fancy restaurant with a tasting menu. Think of something unique and meaningful that she would love.

I hope this was helpful and gave you some gift ideas for Galentine’s & Valentine’s Day! And feel free to share this post with your Sister, Best Friend or Significant other to drop hints. 💘

XO, Rae

HOW TO EMBRACE A BIG LIFE CHANGE

When you're about to embark on a big life change, it's important to consider a few things.

BE OPEN TO THE JOURNEY

I’m very Type A personality. I like to plan things out and know what to expect ahead of time. However, when you’re facing a big life change, your plan may or may not go as perfectly as you hoped for. And that's OKAY. Sometimes the best moments in life are the unexpected ones or the ones that derail us from our original plans. You have to be open to the ups and downs that come as part of the growth. And trust that in the end, it will all work out how it's supposed to.

NOT EVERYONE WILL SUPPORT YOUR DECISION

When I decided to move to New York, I got lucky. All of my friends and family could not have been more supportive. But that isn't always the case for some when making big life changes. It's easier for some people to tear you down than it is to build you up. Not everyone will see your vision and encourage you to chase your dreams. Be prepared to move forward with or without some of your friends and family's support. Don't let others influence you or make you feel less than excited about your decision. After all, it is YOUR life. 

CHANGE IS SCARY, BUT SO IS REGRET

Easier said than done, I know. Change is not something I’m typically comfortable with. I dealt with a lot of change in my childhood. And as a result, it became harder for me to accept change as an adult. The key is embracing it, rather than hiding from it. And if all else fails, at least you can say you took the leap of faith and tried. In life, you have to take risks in order to see the reward. If you can one day look back on your life and say that you have no regrets, imagine how fulfilling that will be. Nothing worth having comes easy. 

DO IT FOR YOURSELF

We often make decisions based on a mix of emotions. Sometimes a combination of our own wants and needs as well as other's. It isn't always easy to make yourself a priority. However, when making a big change in your life, you have to do it for you above anything else. It's never selfish to want to follow your dreams or to take steps to having a more fulfilled life. Your happiness should be the ultimate goal. 

So no matter what big life change you may be considering or beginning to embark upon. Remember to be open to the possibilities, take the good with the bad, have no regrets and do what makes YOU happy. 

XO, Rae 

5 REASONS WHY LIVING IN NEW YORK IS AMAZING

It's no secret that New York City is the one of the greatest cities in the world. Many consider it a right of passage to live here. Besides walking amongst the bright lights and concrete jungle. Here are some more reasons why living in New York City is AMAZING. 

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

Even if you're like me and don't really love to work out. You really won't have a choice living in New York. Chances are high that you will live in a walk up building. Meaning, you could climb five to six flights of stairs every day. Thank you pre-war buildings. I've been doing this for over a year now and I have to say my legs and butt have never looked better. And if you do love working out well, your in luck. Stairs are everywhere, restaurants, subway stations, grocery stores etc... 

Plus, Walking everywhere does keep you active and encourages you to be more fit. And it's a great excuse to wear yoga pants out in public. 

DELIVERY

When you're at home sick and can barely get out of bed or there is 3ft. of snow on the ground and you have to put on six layers of clothes just to go outside. Delivery comes to the rescue. Of course with Seamless you can order great food. There is also delivery for groceries. Have you ever had to carry groceries up 5 flights of stairs?! Yeah, this is why New Yorkers love delivery. And when you've had a bad day at work and only want to come home to a glass of wine and Scandal. But then discover your roommate drank the last of the bottle. You phone your favorite liquor store to order a bottle of wine STAT. YES! Wine delivers to your doorstep. 

I bet Olivia Pope couldn't make that happen. Okay, so she probably could. But you get my point. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Nothing is more exhausting and aggravating than spending hours in the car sitting in traffic. Trust me I know. I lived in Atlanta for 11 years, one of the worst cities to commute in. So living in New York now and having a Subway station every few blocks is amazing. Sure there is such a thing as "train traffic". No, seriously. And yes there are occasional train delays and trains re-routed. But after a long day all I have to do is grab a seat and enjoy the ride. You honestly have more down time in your day to read a book, catch up with a friend, prep for that upcoming interview or listen to music. It's nice to not have to worry about parking or which hwy to avoid during rush hour. Best of all, you never have to be the designated driver in your group of friends. So ultimately, you can have that last cocktail and no one will judge you. 

ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENT

There is endless amounts of things to do from Central Park, Concerts, Movies in the park, Festivals, Broadway shows, Rooftop happy hours, Art exhibits, Museums and tons more. And not to mention you have 5 boroughs you can visit and explore. Also, each new season brings a new agenda of events throughout the city/state. Boredom is not an option here. 

THE PEOPLE

Everyday you get to be surrounded by millions of people in the city. Some may think that this just sounds crowded. But you never know who you may come in contact with on a daily basis. Whether it be a random stranger giving up their seat for you on the subway or an encounter with a celebrity. New Yorkers are known for being loyal to each other and to the city itself. And I have witnessed that first hand. It's always inspiring to see how people in the city never seem to meet a stranger and hustle harder than anyone. 

New York City is no doubt one of the toughest places to live, however there are so many amazing reasons why it is one of the best places to live. So, if you ever have the urge to move to New York City, DO IT! I promise you won't regret it. 

XO, Rae