Q&A with me!
hey beaut,
It’s been a couple of weeks since you’ve heard from me and my recent move to the big city! I posted on my Instagram story a couple of weeks ago, asking you guys what you would like to read from me and it was pretty much an assortment of all things involving the move, styling/beauty tips, random questions about study away programs and more. I thought it would be super fun to outline this blog as a sort of question + answer. That way, we can discuss all of the above :). It has been so fun to read all of the different things you guys are interested in hearing about on #heybeaut and I love when you reach out about things you would like to see next! So, please never hesitate to reach out. Without further ado… let’s start this thing.
QUESTION #1:
“What has surprised you the most about living in NYC?”
I have had a LOT of surprises here in the city, but I would say the one thing that has surprised me the most is how comfortable and safe I feel here. One of my biggest worries moving here on my own was whether or not I would feel comfortable navigating the city. The neighborhood that I live in is called Yorkville, and it is probably the most wholesome area of New York. Wherever I go, there are constantly families out for walks, young adults with their dogs or an elderly couple watching the traffic go by. There are so many young adults constantly trying to navigate the city life and starting from square one just like I did. It truly is one of the most beautiful places getting to watch people pursue their dreams and I feel confident that this is where I belong right now.
QUESTION #2:
“What has been the hardest and best part about your move?”
Being alone has definitely been the hardest and best part about being in Manhattan. Those of you that know me, know that I thrive off of continuous social interaction and love spending time with my friends and family. Moving here on my own has definitely taught me how to be okay with spending days by myself and learning how to cope with loneliness. I always looked at loneliness to be a bad thing, but now I see days where I can spend them with just myself as a complete blessing and something to look forward to. Even if you are not in a big city by yourself, I encourage you to prioritize spending days alone. You’re stuck with yourself for awhile so you might as well get to know each other ;).
QUESTION #3:
“I know you are super close with your family — has it been hard moving further away?”
Yes — it has been very hard to move further away from my family. Back at school in Missouri, it was only about an eight hour drive home [something I could decide last minute, get in the car and go]. Here in New York, it is essential to book a flight and I don’t know how pleasant the 25 hour car ride would be...L O L. Obviously, I love spending time with my family and every chance I get to spend with them truly is a blessing. On the other hand, I know that they want me to pursue my dreams here in New York and when they come to visit we make sure to make each moment memorable. I am counting down the days till I can spend summer nights on the lake with them, though!!
QUESTION #4:
“What are your favorite things to do in NY so far? Going there in March and need recommendations!”
My absolute favorite things to do in New York definitely include a shopping day down in Soho, a Central Park picnic while people/puppy watching, checking out the skyscrapers on Fifth Avenue and a fun local restaurant for dinner and drinks. I definitely recommend finding a dinner spot with a view of the Manhattan/Brooklyn bridge — breathtaking. There are so many things to do in the city, especially as the seasons change. I am looking forward to warmer weather for rooftop restaurants with amazing views to open up, outdoor pop-up shops and more. It really is true what they say — it’s the city that never sleeps and if you sleep while you are in the city, you’ll feel very guilty!
QUESTION #5:
“What are your everyday must have makeup products?”
Definitely the Anastasia brow freeze, Nars creamy concealer, Merit bronzing balm, Charlotte Tilbury ANYTHING, any kind of bright pink blush and the Laneige lip glowy balm. All of these are amazing — you won’t regret leaving Sephora with them.
QUESTION #6:
“Do you recommend the New York study abroad program?”
Absolutely!! This program has been so educational specifically for J-school students at Mizzou. Besides being able to explore the beautiful city, meeting new friends and entering the workforce early, the program involves weekly seminars with guest speakers from major news corporations. I have made so many incredible connections that I know will be beneficial for life and my future career! You also learn so much about yourself as an individual during any study away/abroad program and I most definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about applying.
QUESTION #6:
“What is your New York City style guide?”
So many people have told me I need to start muting the colors I include in my New York fits but I completely disagree! Most people like to stick to neutrals out here but I don’t think there is anything wrong with a little bit of color! Usually for days at work, I’ll stick to a bodysuit and a neutral pair of business trousers. On my days off, I love to mess around with outfits I never thought I could wear back home. I’ve really been into parachute pants lately, dresses with retro tights and a statement jacket, grungier looks that you can dress up and leather pants. I will definitely draft up a complete style guide for an upcoming blog post—so stay tuned :).
QUESTION #7:
“Do you feel like you have changed a lot from high school?”
I get this question a lot because I think that people can see that I definitely have! However, I would say I have changed in a lot of different ways but also have still held tight to the values that have made me the person I am today. I think I am a lot more of a go-getter than I was in high school and I think I definitely have a broader sense of what the world is now than I did back then. However, I still don’t really know anything and feel that I am going to continue to change as I experience more things in life. Change really is a beautiful thing as long as you allow it to take its course <3.
QUESTION #8:
“Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?”
In 5-10 years, I definitely see myself working for a magazine in a larger city than the one I grew up in or continuing to purse my passion for fashion journalism in different aspects. I want to be in New York for a little bit after college, but when I am ready to settle down and have a family I think I see myself heading back to Minnesota or elsewhere in the Midwest. It’s so hard to say because goals can change so quickly within the span of a few years, but I know that whatever is meant to be will happen!
QUESTION #9:
“What is your biggest piece of advice for people who want to move but are too scared to?”
You will never regret trying a new place but you will always regret never giving it a chance.
QUESTION #10:
“What is one thing you wish people knew about you?”
I wish people knew how much I want to be a light in this world. I know it sounds completely cliché, but it’s true. I’ve always been a perfectionist in every little thing that I do and I think that it comes from a place of wanting to do everything to the best of my ability for a positive outcome. This can often be a curse and I am very hard on myself most times, but I am proud of the motive behind it. This is kind of why I started my blog in the first place — to offer a sense of positivity through my love for writing. We never know how much time we have left on this earth, therefore I think it is so important to make every moment and relationship count.
xx
Okay, I absolutely loved writing this style of a blog post— but I would love to hear your feedback. Please reach out with any future questions or ideas for what you want to hear and I will do my best to make it happen. Thank you so much for following along on this journey with me and I am so excited to see where it takes us.
Until next time,
cg
