If I ever get married, I think I’ll have a tiny wedding so I can save the money on furnishing the house. No kidding. Already, I’m picky about sound, so I’ll be spending a good amount on a kickass audio system. And I’ll definitely want some fancy art pieces adorning my bare white walls. Then there are all these mid-century modern designer chairs that I love, no thanks to my previous job that got me researching on them.
As routine as life gets, I never know for sure what’s going to happen each day. Truthfully, I kinda like the surprises; they keep life interesting and more often than not, they serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness. And boy, do I need to have faith this year.
2012′s gonna be filled with uncertainties. Mostly because it marks the end of my personal 5-year plan, and – believe me – I’m all ready to reassess my vocation. I’ve never liked the idea of staying in my comfort zone for too long. I need change. It keeps me from getting lazy/complacent/overly-jaded. Yet, it also brings about a whole truckload of questions and concerns. Hence, as much as I’m excited about making major changes in my life, I’m also pretty nervous. So if you share my faith (or even if you don’t), please pray that I will continue to seek the Lord’s guidance and have the confidence to see things through. :)
Speaking of which, I never see through all my New Year’s resolutions. So I told myself to be less ambitious this year and instead of resolving to achieve a whole bunch of things, I’m gonna set about endeavouring. You see, by not calling them “resolutions” it already feels less pressurising because it doesn’t come with the expectation of ensuring they get accomplished by year’s end. Agree?
- Be a better steward of time and money
- Make healthier eating choices
- Be more patient towards my family
That’s it. That’s all I have this year. But they’re not easy. BELIEVE ME.
Already, I’ve failed somewhat in the Good Steward of Money department, making several purchases for work. But in my defence, I really was running out of work clothes. Also, the print on this top was just too cute.
I did a little better food-wise. Dinner was grilled salmon with roasted potatoes. Healthy enough, yes?
And again, that’s why I’m calling them endeavours.
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Song of the Day, because it’s always good to kick off the new year with Christian Ska! ;p
This concludes my top 20 things about my favourite city in the world. I’m expecting this list to change/grow with each subsequent visit (yes, I imagine there to be many more trips to New York) but this will do, for now. ;)
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17. Hit Woodbury Common for a shopping experience like no other
Everyone who has been to New York couldn’t stop gushing to me about Woodbury Common, declaring that I simply have to go there. Well, well… guess who’s also on this gushing bandwagon now? We’re not exactly talking about discounts so great one could save a tiny third-world nation, but with the kind of brands available at this premium outlet, the savings are certainly substantial. So be prepared to spend. A LOT. Only problem is, I, like everyone else before me, completely underestimated the size of this place. I could advise you to catch the first bus there, and the last bus back, but even that isn’t going to help you cover the entire grounds. Truth is, I don’t think anyone can cover it fully in a day. Unless you have a very, very, very focused shopping list. Perhaps you may want to consider staying a night in the area? Trust me, you wouldn’t be sorry if you did.
18. Gaze at the Atlantic Ocean as you stroll along the Coney Island boardwalk
It is as old-school as it gets. You could just picture the cheerful screams, ringing bells and sideshows. And while it may be a lot more interesting during the Summer when the amusement parks are actually open, Coney Island still proved to be a relaxing and pleasant walk in the off-season. You kinda forget that you’re in New York for awhile. I’d definitely love to go back when everything’s in full swing. Imagine watching the fireworks setting the sky ablaze over the Atlantic Ocean. It doesn’t get more perfect than that.
19. Sink your teeth into a freshly-made pizza at Totonno’s
As bold as this statement may sound, I will declare that Totonno’s serves the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. I can already taste it in my mouth. It was that memorable. To me, the best pizza is all about the crust and the freshness of the ingredients and Totonno’s makes them exactly the way I like it. When I took that first bite, all I could muster was an inappropriate moan. I can’t quite recall if Dia responded likewise (although I think she did) but she was in pizza heaven too. We went with the pepperoni, mushroom & garlic and even though it appeared humungous at first, we didn’t couldn’t hold back, and licked up every morsel. Seriously. Best pizza ever. Until I try one that’s more earth-shattering, that is.
20. Take in the breathtaking views from the Fulton Ferry Landing, then cross the Brooklyn Bridge
We got a bit lost in Brooklyn because I didn’t have a proper map of the borough, but thanks to the app on my BB, we managed to find our way to the Fulton Ferry Landing without a whole lot of hassle. We only wanted to get there so we could try the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (which wasn’t bad); little did we know that we’d find the perfect Kodak spot. Actually, the entire Brooklyn Bridge Park offers fantastic views of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s just a shame that we didn’t get to spend enough time here, or in Brooklyn for that matter. We absolutely LOVED Brooklyn for all the inexplicable charm that it exudes and for the major lack of tourists. We couldn’t help feeling like locals. :p I would definitely stay there a few nights next time I’m back in NYC.
With our tummies filled with ice cream, what better way to head back to Manhattan than a lazy stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge? It was a befitting end to a fantastic day in Brooklyn.
