Tag Archives: winter

Dealing with Snow in the Big Apple:

We all dream of a white Christmas, however, snow in the Big Apple makes life a little crazier. Just a few inches of snow brings out the snow boots and over-sized coats. Here are a few tips to get through the winter while at school:

■ Dress in Layers: Let’s be honest, layers rule during the winter. Loose fitting clothing trap the body’s natural warmth, and do it best with an insulating inner layer and an outer layer resistant to wind and water. The less body area exposed, the warmer you’ll be.

■ Monitor Your Health: Stay well hydrated and well nourished, and wash your hands often. Prevent serious infections by getting an annual flu shot. Keep your skin glowing by staying moisturized.

■ Prepare Your Room: When it’s cold out, the dorms stay warm. A/C is switched to warmer air, and depending on how your room is set up some parts of your room may be a different temperature. Keep throw blankets and comforters on hand!

■ Stay ahead of classes: With unpredictable weather, sometimes the snow gets the best of the city. Snow days are inevitable, so stay on top of your class work just in the worst case scenario things get moved up/back that are unexpected!

Holiday Window Displays 2017:

It’s that time of year again! Before the turkeys are on dinner tables, window displays at iconic New York City department stores are already bringing in Christmas cheer. New York City is known for jaw-dropping holiday visuals, and here are a few I think are worthy of checking out this holiday season!

Bergdorf Goodman, Fifth Avenue –

The display pays homage to seven of New York City’s well-know cultural institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The New York Botanical Gardens, and the New-York Historical Society. It captures the city’s appreciation for art, history, music, and film with their presentation entitled, “To New York With Love”. As onlookers peruse the windows, they can expect to see displays featuring bejeweled dinosaurs, a large-screen montage of black-and-white films clips, soft-sculpture plant life, neon musical instruments, papier-mâché portraits and sculptures, and signature glass objects.

Macy’s, 34th Street –

Despite tough times for department-store chains, Macy’s has once again shown what it can do when it comes to the magic of the holidays. This year’s window theme is “The Perfect Gift Brings People Together.” The department store has six holiday windows on Broadway and 18 other windows,  including the perennial “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” which has had a place of honor for the last 10 years. One window features a Christmas tree as the centerpiece at home Another captures the busy city with an ice skating rink. A third has Santa as a theater conductor during a holiday show.

Lord & Taylor, Fifth Avenue –

Features five animated windows along with fashion windows and an additional 13 smaller windows filled with holiday flair at Lord & Taylor. Each incorporates snow globes to help tell the story. The windows depict a circus scene, polar bears playing in the Arctic and Santa’s workshop. The Lord & Taylor windows are built off-site and take six months to create starting from the vision to the final production. Up to 75 different skilled tradespeople work to put the windows including carpenters, electricians, and skilled painters.

Saks Fifth Avenue –

Saks Fifth Avenue celebrates the 80th year of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with its 14 animated holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue this year. Each window features a different scene from the popular fairy tale, including Snow White dancing with the woodland creatures, the Seven Dwarfs coming home from the diamond caves and the Wicked Queen and the poisonous red apple.

Winter Break Reminders

We are in the final stretch of the semester which means winter break is only a few short days away!  It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of finals, packing, traveling, and saying goodbye to friends for a few weeks, but make sure that you don’t forget the following as you depart New York:

  • Return your textbooks!
  • Check out of the dorms/inform your RA (if living in the dorms)
  • Don’t forget to lock your apartment/dorm door (you’d be surprised how many people have forgotten)
  • Turn off your heat while you’re away so that you don’t run up a huge bill
  • Double check that you have your wallet, ID, and passport
  • Bring your winter coat with you even if you’re traveling somewhere warm.  You’ll need it once you travel back to the city
  • Don’t forget a portable charger for your travels and be sure to always have snacks!
  • Clean out your fridge/pantry and dispose of any perishables
  • Unplug any unnecessary electronics
  • Relax and enjoy your break!

Ashley

Snug Up With A Good Book

Winter means temperatures are dropping and the only thing you want to do is to stay in doors, probably in bed with a good movie. But try switching it up and instead of Netflix, you might want to try snuggling up to a good book. Here are some of the books that are on my Winter to read list:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles It’s the story about this man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life in the attic of a luxury hotel, as Russian history is unfolding outside his widow. It takes a look at the man’s emotional discovery, throughout the years.

Elizabeth Chadwick’s Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy Although I’ve read the two first ones, I love the era it’s set in. If like me you love the middle ages, stories about Kings and Queens, power, wealth, and war. You will love this trilogy. It’s based on the real life of Queen Eleanor, and her very tumultuous life in the French and English court.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho It’s the story about this boy who travels from Spain to the Egyptian dessert to find a treasure. Along the way he meets several people who point him to the direction of his quest. It’s ultimately a story about the importance of listening to our hearts.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes Ever since I’ve seen the movie You Before Me, I’ve been wanting to read one of Jojo Moyes stories. This one sounded the most interesting, because it’s the story of how a painting holds memories of lost loves. Although the two main female characters are separated by centuries, they are united because of their determination to fight for the thing they love most.

If you have any book recommendations, feel free to leave them down below!

xoxo

Zorya

Alone For Thanksgiving…

The holidays are upon us once again! For some it means going back home and spending it with the family, but others might not be as lucky and are spending it alone this year. It’s really easy to get into a funk, when you see all your friends and family, having a great time. But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that because they are having a great time that you shouldn’t too!

Here are my tips on how to feel not so alone during the holidays…

Help others. Holidays are the perfect excuse to go out of your comfort zone, and do something you would never do otherwise. If you like giving, why not try volunteering at a food bank or somewhere else. Trust me it’s a great feeling, knowing that you’ve made someones day, that little more special.

Plan an outing. Go to the movies, a museum, the park, or even go out of the city and go for a hike. My roommate did that, and she said it was beautiful. You just hope on a train and pick a spot.

Get together with your friends. You won’t even realize how many of your friends are in the same situation you are in. Don’t feel bad calling them up and hanging out together, I’m sure they’d love too. For example this year I’m spending thanksgiving alone, but I decided to call up a few friends and now we’re having our own friend thanksgiving.

Treat Yo Self! Takes this time as an opportunity to pamper yourself. Go to a spa, get a manicure/pedicure, or even a massage. This will make you feel amazing, and take your mind of of the holidays for a little.

xoxo

Zorya