NYC Diaries: 5 ways to prepare for spring

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Let’s talk weather. Here in New York, the sky is dreary and overcast and filled with the promise of rain. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind a rainy day every once in a while. But after a long winter of bitter cold and snowstorms, I think I speak for most people when I say that we’re itching for spring. And this is NOT the springtime weather we had in mind. I was hoping for bright flowers and blooming trees and no more reason to wear my coat. And with the proverbial April showers well on their way, it doesn’t look like Mother Nature is giving us a break here.

So how do we stave off the blues during this extended winter? How do we manage to keep a positive attitude amidst the monotony and lack of sunshine? Here are five tips on surviving these next few weeks and welcoming spring the right way…

Get a head start on that spring cleaning
My mom used to tell me all the time: Don’t wait until tomorrow to accomplish something you can do today. So what are you waiting for? Instead of wasting a beautiful spring day stuck inside with chores, why not get it done while the weather is refusing to cooperate? Pack away the jackets and heavy sweaters you won’t need for another few seasons and start filling up your closets with the cheery sundresses and blouses you’ll be rocking within the next month.

Pamper yourself
To me, there’s nothing more uplifting than a spa day. Allow yourself to feel pretty, and get your nails or hair done at the local salon. You’re not just getting ready for a date or party; you’re prepping for a whole new season. So enjoy the wait because getting ready is half the fun.

Work off those last few pounds
This one follows the theme of preparation. Don’t just be passive and wait for the warm weather to arrive. Greet spring head-on by shedding the weight you put on over the holidays and get bikini-ready by the first beach-weather day of the year.

Create a springy atmosphere
Every season requires a bit of redecorating. So get rid of the poinsettias and wintry vanilla-scented candles, and replace them with boldly colored flowers and tropical scents. Sunflowers always put me in a great mood, especially on the dullest days. Even if the outdoors is a rainy mess, your home (or office or dorm) can be a springtime paradise.

Hit the mall

This is my favorite tip! I’m BIG on shopping, and what better time to update your spring/summer wardrobe? Stores are already selling shorts and bathing suits, so that will definitely put you in a warmer-weather mood. A lot of places are also having sales on winter clothes, so you can always stock up on those for next year!

So there you are…some ideas to make this dreary transition period more enjoyable. I hope you have a
lovely time, and don’t let the weather get you down too much. Happy spring! And let me know: How are you preparing for the springtime?

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–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness 

[Photos via Pinterest]

NYC Diaries: Rejection isn’t confined to disabilities

During last week’s Women Tell All episode of The Bachelor, there was a scene where limb-different contestant Sarah Herron spills all about the pain she felt after Sean Lowe told her she was not the one for him. ”It’s the worst to be told ‘you’re great, but you’re not good enough for me,’” she says. “I always fall back on, ‘Oh well, it must be because I have one arm.’” It’s a heartbreaking moment as the audience sees Sarah fighting back tears. And it brought me back to the times when no boys wanted to dance with me at parties and my 6th-grade crush told me my shorter arm was ugly. So for the sake of honesty here, I’ll confess this: I cried after watching the show. I know exactly how Sarah felt, and I cried for her and for myself and for any girl living with a physical difference in a superficial world.
 
But here’s the thing that may just shed a little light on this sort of situation: We’ve all been there. Turn on the TV or pick up a book or magazine, and I doubt you’ll have too much trouble finding a scene where a beautiful and seemingly perfect girl with two arms faces rejection from the guy she wants. Rejection is not a phenomenon exclusive to women with disabilities. Dating isn’t easy for anyone. And when it comes down to it, a disability isn’t an automatic deal-breaker for most people. Just because you’re missing a limb or use a wheelchair doesn’t mean that all guys are going to reject you.

I know I’ve been very insecure about my arm throughout my life, but I feel comfortable knowing that my boyfriend loves all of me as I am. He’s there for me, and he’s happy with the way I look, even with messy hair and 1.5 arms. And through his eyes, I’ve learned to see that I’m not alone and that I’m worth loving.

Rejection just plain sucks sometimes. But when you do find someone who really loves you and who you can connect with and be vulnerable with, you’ll realize that all the hurts and heartbreaks kind of just fade away.
 
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–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness

NYC Diaries: Surfin’ (and Street Lugin’ and Mountain Boardin’ and Cliff Divin’) USA

Last week, I met one of the coolest people on the planet who just so happens to have traveled all over the planet. Kevin Michael Connolly is a photographer, author and professional adventurer who was born without legs and is always ready for the next daredevil challenge life throws his way. I’d read his memoir Double Take years ago, and after hearing about his new show Armed & Ready on the Travel Channel, I asked Kevin if I could interview him for my blog. I honestly didn’t think he would agree to it, but I found myself talking to Kevin at the Travel Channel headquarters in New York the next day during my lunch break.

I’ll admit that I was a nervous wreck, mentally reminding myself not to trip or fall or say anything stupid. But Kevin turned out to be super nice and open to answering all my questions. And the more he told me about his travels during the show, from Hawaii to Tennessee and everywhere in between, the more I felt a sense of wanderlust and wished I could take a few weeks off from work to explore the world.

Although I haven’t done much traveling myself, I feel like I’ve definitely lived through a lot of cool experiences and done things most people wouldn’t even dream they’d be able to do. And that’s what I love about New York. What other city in the world allows you to do everything from partying with Paris Hilton to watching musicals on Broadway to interviewing someone as cool as Kevin Michael Connolly? I’m pretty sure NYC is the most awesome place to live and work in the world. And until I get that month-long travel vacation I’ve always wanted to take, I’m happy knowing that every day is a chance for a new adventure here in the Big Apple.

You can read my full interview with Kevin here. Armed & Ready premieres tonight on the Travel Channel at 10/9c. I’ll be live-tweeting throughout the episode, so be sure to FOLLOW me on Twitter for more!

–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness

NYC Diaries: My 100-Word Love Story

I hated Valentine’s Day, but we’d just started dating and wanted to spend time together. I met him in the school library so we could hang out, not expecting his surprise. He’d arranged a desk with romantic gifts: a teddy bear, a box of marshmallow Peeps (my favorite), a rose and a homemade card. I opened the card and saw the words I hadn’t expected: I love you. Then he spoke the words aloud and kissed me. Yes, our first I-love-yous were on the corniest holiday of the year. But it was perfect. And 2 years later, we’re still together.

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–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness

NYC Diaries: 7 signs you’re a tourist

Hello, all! So I was thinking about what my next blog post would be, and I decided to go with something specifically related to NYC. As you know, New York City is the land of tourists. People come from far and wide to see our many landmarks, from the Empire State Building to the largest Macy’s in the world. And of course, we native New Yorkers can easily tell who’s a local and who’s a foreigner. How, you ask? Well, a trained eye can help you out with that one. And of course, there are a few tell-tale signs to look out for. You’ll know instantly that someone is a tourist if they…
 
Take photos of random displays or objects
I see people snapping pictures of things like the electronic traffic signals all the time, and I have to wonder, “Why do they want a photo of something so mundane? Are there no traffic signs in other parts of the country?”
 
Ride the double-decker buses
No native New Yorker rides in one of those things. Ever. Try the subway if you’re brave and/or don’t mind getting lost. It’s a whole lot faster.
 
Buy or wear an I <3 em="" ny=""> shirt
Those little shops are specifically set up for tourists, and are way overpriced. If you want souvenirs to bring home, buy a New York Times paper. It’s a lot cheaper and screams New York more than a t-shirt does.
 
Stand still in the middle of a busy sidewalk
This is not only unusual, it’s also dangerous. (Do you want to get trampled?). Pedestrian traffic is very thick and very fast on New York’s busier streets. So make sure you just keep moving.
 
Use a map
NYC may have an intricate subway system, but any self-respecting New Yorker already has it memorized. Besides, burying your nose in a map will make you miss out on the beautiful (and often strange) scenery.
 
Are easily shocked
For most people, seeing public nudity (the Naked Cowboy, anyone?) or any number of out-of-the-ordinary behavior is enough to make heads turn and eyes bulge. But here in New York, we’ve seen it all. Nonchalance is our middle name, and nothing really shocks or disturbs us anymore.
 
Tip street performers
Maybe we’re a little jaded or maybe we’re just used to it, but this is one thing NYC-ers typically don’t do. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the music or dancing or acrobatic performance. It’s just that we see them everywhere. They haunt our subway stations and even perform on the trains. Seriously.

So there you have it, folks. If you’re ever in the Big Apple, see if you can tell the difference between the New Yorkers and your fellow tourists. (And no, we here don’t usually say “folks.”). Until next week!

 
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–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness