Anyone who knows me well knows that 24 is my favorite number. I was born on the 24th, my parents live in the 24th house of a street in Shrewsbury, I take exit 24 off Route 290 to get home. All in all, 24 has always been my lucky number. Since my 24th birthday is coming up, I've decided to commemorate this national holiday (on Planet Dara) by creating a bucket list of 24 items I'd like to do, see, and experience during this memorable year.
Travel to a city I've never been to before
Put away $24 every month for something special
Try Pure Barre
Get promoted to senior
Read 24 new books
Learn how to make Mom's scallion pancakes (and make it myself)
Try a new restaurant
Participate in Boston's Restaurant Week
Finish watching Game of Thrones
Take a trip with my sister
Treat a friend to mani/pedis, just because
Host a dinner party for more than two other people at the apartment
Apply for my CPA license
Hike Runyon Canyon in L.A.
No coffee for 24 days
Unplug from the iPhone, laptop, TV, iPad for 24 hours
Go out to eat by myself
Go to an Indian restaurant with my roommate
Run outside once a week for a month
Have afternoon tea somewhere with friends
Visit the terrace at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC
When it comes to French style, I can gobble almost any list, self-help book, or blog post about it. Some lists can get quite long, and some too preachy. I enjoyed this piece from WSJ on five style essentials for a typical French woman, and found it to be comprehensive yet simple, echoing much of what I've already known.
This year, and even from the last few weeks of 2014, I've been working on a gradual closet edit--giving away everything that I haven't worn in the past year to my sister or charity or selling it. It's been such a refreshing process, and it has helped me discover that some of my favorite winter pieces are the soft sweaters, J. Brand jeans, and ballet flats. I used to think I needed to add variety to that mix, but as life only gets more hectic, variety is only taking time away from other things. In its place, I'm working on saving money for more thoughtful purchases.
During a recent bout of back-to-back busy season-esque work days, I've discovered that the best stress reliever is a blood-pumping therapeutic spin session at B/Spoke, a fairly new boutique studio in Downtown Crossing. Among the refreshingly simple space, the motivational instructors, and luxurious bathroom products (shoutout to Aesop!), is the most discerning music selection that plays throughout the studios and in class. I was able to track down a few of the songs played and immediately added them to Spotify. On days that I get to work from the office, or if I'm lucky enough to have a senior who allows music in the audit room, this is what I'm jamming out to for focus and relief from the every day stresses of auditing a 9/30 SEC client:
Love Never Felt So Good (Fedde Le Grand Remix Radio Edit), Michael Jackson
Cut Your Teeth (Kygo Remix), Kyla La Grange, Kygo
Geronimo, Sheppard
OctaHate, Ryn Weaver
Classic (feat. Powers), The Knocks, Powers
My Love, Route 94, Jess Glynne
Talking Body, Tove Lo
Scream - Project 46 Remix, Usher, Patrick Bruyndonx, Yves Galliard
I know George Clooney has been dating Amal Alamuddin for a while now, but only lately, amongst all the wedding gossip (in a city I know all too well), did I get a chance to read more about this dark-haired beauty, and I've decided she is very much a #WCW. I mean, she's perfect. She is a lawyer, a human rights activist, and she also writes?!? I barely have the focus to do my one job as an auditor let alone multiple! And her style. Don't get me started on her impeccably chic cream-on-cream outfit she wore pre-wedding.
By the time we arrived at our final destination, sand and surf were the only things on our minds. From the moment we stepped foot into Sao Paolo airport, Melanie and I were overwhelmed with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Brazil, in the best way possible. By our seventh day, we were exhausted but ready for one last adventure at a much slower tempo.
I'm so grateful that our Audley travel agent Renata recommended Praia de Pipa, a beach village tucked away from the neighboring city of Natal. The nearest airport was about two hours away, so the ride to Pipa was an interesting look into a side of Brazil you don't see in the larger cities under a tourist-friendly blanket.
Our days at Pipa were luxurious in the sense that we had no plans other than relaxation, eating, and shopping. Freshly-squeezed fruit juices and ice-cold coconuts were as common as water, and nightlife was not lacking. We got up early every day to stake out a good spot at Baia dos Golfinhos, which translates to "Dolphin's Bay." True to its name, this portion of the beach was filled with wild dolphins. At least five dolphin sightings were guaranteed during a given day, and it was so exciting to see who would get closest to one since they swam up to the surface unannounced to do a flip or take a breath.
On our second day, Melanie and I rented paddle-boards from Pipa Surf School and tried our hand at stand-up paddle-boarding, which was more difficult and required more concentration than it might seem (whenever a dolphin got close, I'd get so excited that I would wipe out). When 4 p.m. rolled around and the tides became too high to lay on the beach, we walked up to lunch and ice-cream at Real 14--the only shop where I've found Ferrero Rocher flavored icecream (exotic, I know).
Having to come back to actual reality after ten days in an altered one was a hard transition. But, as with any vacation, Melanie and I came back with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. I cannot thank Audley Travel enough for taking the heavy-lifting of planning off our shoulders, making this trip a truly enjoyable and relaxing one.
Photos by Dara Fang
Accommodations: Pousada Tartaruga
Beach activities: Pipa Surf School at Baia dos Golfinhos (Dolphin's Bay)
Travel arrangements provided by Audley Travel in Boston. I was NOT compensated in any form for this post--just honest opinions and comments about my trip! For a recap of my entire Brazil trip, check these posts out.
Oh Dios Rio. The most anticipated leg of our short journey around Brazil and it did not disappoint. After spending the morning relaxing at Iguassu Falls, we took an afternoon flight to the city in Brazil's spotlight. On hiatus between the World Cup and the Olympics, Rio de Janeiro is a city stuck with a major identity crisis. Major improvements to city infrastructure were made for the World Cup, but there is still so much to be done before the world convenes again in 2016 for the Summer Olympics. Our driver-guide during our stay at Rio, Ra Barroso, explained all this to us as we sped along the highway through the favelas of southern Rio to the glitzy glam North. However, when asked how he felt about the World Cup in Rio, he echoed on behalf of the entire city population that it was a proud moment for all Brazilians to see a sport so loved by the people celebrated on their territory, even if they were not crowned as winners.
Ra was not short of stories, and for the two days he was with us, he kept Melanie and I very entertained with all sorts of Rio history, fun facts, current events, and personal recounts. Together, we stopped at the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue, both of which presented the most beautiful (and windy!) views of this incredible city. For lunch, we enjoyed traditional Brazilian BBQ, a meat lover's heaven, and many sweet and strong caipirinhas.
Thanks to our Audley agent's great taste, we had oceanfront rooms on the 18th floor of the Rio Othon Palace. While not nearly as plush as the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, the views were phenomenal--huge floor-to-ceiling sliding door balcony that opened up directly to the famous Copacabana Beach meant waking up very early to a breathtaking sunrise. and hearing the tall waves crash against the shore. At night, the walkway on the beach hosted a weekday night market, which was the perfect destination for inexpensive local artwork (I bought some small paintings from Linda Valente), trinkets, caftans, and biqinis. Out of all three destinations along our journey, this stop required the most stamina for the city was of substantial size with so many nooks and crannies such as the Parque Lage and palm-tree lined Jardim Botanico, which are both hidden gems underneath the huge tourist umbrella that is the Christ statue.
Up next: Brazil 2014 Part 3: Praia di Pipa
Check out Brazil 2014 Part 1: Iguassu Falls
Photos by Dara Fang
Accommodations: Rio Othon Palace
Driver/guide: Ra Barroso (the sweetest!)
Favorite meal: Zuka, per recommendation from Ra!
Travel arrangements provided by Audley Travel in Boston. I was NOT compensated in any form for this post--just honest opinions and comments about my trip!
For me, traveling is the ultimate luxury, hence a topic that is frequently featured on this diary-blog of mine. My semester abroad during spring of 2012 was the highlight of my college experience, and I have that semester to thank for some lifelong friends whom I would probably have never met otherwise. Melanie, one of aforementioned friends, and I have long discussed a trip to Brazil after our semester in Europe, during which we visited many cities together by sheer luck (we both had similar itineraries and weekends).
Our first destination, and also the most indulgent part of our trip, was a two day trip to the Brazilian side of the great Iguassu Falls.
When it comes to Iguassu Falls, we dumped a bulk of our budget to stay at the magnificent Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. With its prime location inside the Iguassu Falls National Park (the only hotel inside the park), and directly across from the entrance to the trails, it was really the best and only option when visiting Iguassu. Being able to access the trails before and after the park closed was a prized advantage and allowed for some amazing views from not only the trails, but also the tower of the Cataratas hotel. We started every day early with a hearty breakfast buffet by the pool--fresh fruits, omelettes, and strong Brazilian coffee gave us a kickstart to days packed with walking, exploring, eating, and activities.
One of our favorite activities was the Macuco Safari, which is a three-part journey through the forests surrounding the Iguassu Falls culminating into a boat ride that brings you directly into a waterfall. It was the perfect way to combat the sweltering hot tropical temperatures at Iguassu and we continued the cooling off process poolside at the hotel with deliciously creamy Brazilian iced coffees before ending the day by catching sunset at the tower of the Cataratas hotel.
Next: Brazil 2014 Part 2 - Rio de Janeiro
Photos: Dara Fang and Melanie Chang
Accommodations: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Iguassu Falls Driver/Guide provided by Blumar Travel
Travel arrangements by Audley Travel in Boston. I was NOT compensated in any form for this post--just honest opinions and comments about my trip!
My friend Mel and I just touched down from an epic trip down in South America. Thanks to a very meticulously planned custom itinerary in Brazil by Audley Travel, a UK-based travel company, we were able to get together for another one of the infamous Mel-and-Dara adventures in a country neither of us had experienced before. More pictures and narratives to come about the three places in Brazil we visited: Iguassu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, and Pipa Beach.
Photo above: my super-model friend at Copacabana Beach, taken on 25 Aug. 2014.
Today, I went on a much-talked-about-but-never-executed run. I woke up to perfectly blue skies and no plans...so if there was ever a better time to go on a solo run, that was it. The goal was to hit Memorial Drive for a view of the Boston skyline my Uber driver told me about once when I told him I thought Storrow Drive "was the coolest view of Boston at night." (He scoffed.)
The funny thing is (and friends tell me this all the time): I am the planner in the group. I like having a list of activities and exploring for each day. Nothing makes me more unsettled than waking up on a beautiful day and having my boyfriend tell me he wants to "sit inside and watch Game of Thrones" all day. For the Fourth of July holiday weekend, I tried my hand at being whimsical. Usually when I visit New York City, I have a list of restaurants I want to go to or things to check out. This time around, I made no plans other than a visit to the Whitney Museum. Most of time, I was sitting around my sister's apartment or the park reading a captivating book I had just bought. It was the most relaxed I'd ever been after a visit to NYC, which normally leaves me exhausted. Ironically, it's when I don't make plans that I end up discovering the most: my sister's favorite places in the city (including my new favorite wings place), "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" inscribed on the Longfellow Bridge, the fact that Memorial Drive did in fact have a pedestrian trail, and Charles River sailing lessons I can't wait to try.
We are the online kids, and we should be grateful to be living in this period of opportunity. But again, as it is always in life, it’s all about finding the right, healthy balance. Heaving a beautiful Instagram feed can be very illusional, posting nice inspirational quotes doesn’t make you a good person, it’s what you do in real life that will define who you are. The way you are with your friends, family, with your neighbors or just society in general.
--Kristina Bazan, of Kayture--a fashion blog I discovered via Pinterest by way of this simply chic outfit
I should preface this post by saying that I am not a runner. The idea of jogging has somehow always bored me and left me breathless at the same time, and in retrospect I attribute this to a terrible habit of resorting to the treadmill at the gym. When I signed up to do the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge 5K a couple months ago, I figured it would be a great motivator for getting outside and running in order to train (yes, I'd need to train for a 5K). Unfortunately, work and procrastination got in the way and last Tuesday, I dragged my feet to the starting line at Boston Common so reluctantly you'd think I was getting my wisdom teeth out again. I had gotten about 1.5 hours of sleep the night before (thanks but no thanks to this road trip) and worked all day. I was so tired by 5 pm that I didn't even have energy to eat before this race (not a good idea, by the way). Nonetheless, I ended up running about 2.5 miles and walked one. Considering all of the factors surrounding my physical and mental state that day, I'd say my time (42 min and then some) was a pretty decent one for my first 5K, and the experience with all my friends and co-workers have made me into a outdoor runner of sorts.
Have you ever done something you've never done, only to be turned into a convert?
During a particularly slow day at work, my co-workers/friends and I were talking about the songs that are our current 24/7 jams. Somewhere in the middle of this conversation, Hannah came up with the idea of which the above playlist was the product. The idea was stupidly simple and intricately genius all the same: each of one of us was to pick out five of her favorite songs and add them to the group playlist, no repeats. There were five of us, so the playlist would ultimately result in twenty new songs to add to our workday jukebox. As the day progressed, the playlist kept growing and growing (it was immensely difficult to limit to five songs!). Given how different our personalities and tastes in music were, it was interesting to see what other people would add to the playlist--it's like a window to their inner beings. Since the playlist creation yesterday, I haven't been able to stop listening to this playlist we've created that I've decided to share it with all of you as well. Hope you enjoy, and happy Saturday!
The past weekend's family road trip down to Myrtle Beach, SC was just what the doctor ordered in terms of a mental health break. We stayed in an oceanfront room at Captain's Quarters after a long 13-hour trip driving from Boston all the way to South Carolina...I can't even remember the last time we did that as a family, but as always, adventure ensued. We were so exhausted from the trip down that the only desirable activities from day-to-day were to eat and sleep--from bed to sand--and talk and talk and talk until we all feel as though we haven't all been a bit disjointed before between college, work, and travels.
This past Tuesday, a couple friends and I attended an advance screening of this new movie (c/o Loew's AMC Theaters in Boston Commons). When my friend first described this movie to me--"a comedy about abortion"--I almost spat out the water I was drinking and was, all in all, pretty skeptical. I was surprised to find myself laughing out loud pretty much the entire movie. It helps that the main character is a comedian (Jenny Slate does an amazing job in the lead role). Even more so, I find that this movie takes a more realistic and relatable approach on an otherwise overly-austere and stigmatized topic.
Have you seen 'Obvious Child'? What were your thoughts?
It's hard to imagine that, having grown up (and living in) Massachusetts for all but two years of my life, I've only been to the Cape ONCE. My parents, being the free-spirited travelers they are, rarely visited the same place twice. On the other hand, all my classmates in elementary school, middle school, and high school, had houses on the Cape (or knew someone who knew someone who had a house on the Cape). And every year, like clockwork, my neighbors made a pilgrimage to the Cape and basically could not be bothered until September. This weekend, I'm heading back out (very very early Saturday morning) to re-experience what I vaguely remember from my childhood--the salty air, the shell-littered shores, the lobster--and some new things: MaryLou's famous iced coffee, the original Cape Cod Bracelet, and Nantucket.
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theartofmadeline
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