Brett told me he thought this shade of yellow looked really good on me and works really well for more than just the summer season. I looked at him and thought, “I’ll keep him.”

We live on the North end of Central Park, an area, I’ve noticed, is far less busy and touristy. If I had to guess, most people have been to the lower half of Central Park because all the movies and TV shows are filmed on that end. Bethesda Fountain is for engagements and weddings. The Boat House is for every romantic willing to pay an arm and a leg to row for thirty minutes (I totally want to go rowing there at some point!).

But the north part— that’s the part I really have fallen in love with. There are nature trails, bridges, waterfalls, tunnels, Hills, and quiet benches.

Any part that feels least explored or adored is typically my favorite part of anything. That’s the north part.

I feel this way about parks and people, which, is something I really like about myself. If a person shows up to an event or a shindig, but hasn’t been sought after much, or if no one has truly taken the time to get to know that person, I’m typically most eager to seek them out. Not out of pity, but out of a desire to see them belong to the group as a whole.

For a long time, I’ve thought the most important people in the room don’t matter as much as the most hidden people in the room. Not always, but typically, the most interesting person in the room has suddenly become the loner, hider, or avoider. Those hidden or “least important” people— I think they want to be known, but sometimes it’s easier to hide or wait to be engaged with. So, I’m the person that engages and draws them out. I’m the person who wants to tell everyone else about them and how important they truly are. I’m the person who wants to remind them they have value and I want see them get connected to everyone else— I want to see them belong and thrive….

…Just like the Northern part of Central Park— I want everyone to know, it’s totally worth exploring and getting to know.

The day we took these pictures wasn’t anything special. It was our Sabbath Saturday (on Saturdays we rest from work) and we walked through the park slowly and quietly. I can’t remember what we talked about, but I remember feeling grateful and warmed by the sun.

These pictures are from both Central Park, Blue Bottle Cafe on the Upper East Side (It’s in a Cathedral and that’s pretty legit!) and the Community Garden down the street from our building. These are the last of the flowers before Fall. My heart is so full with the sheer amount of greenery surrounding our neighborhood. After living in the desert and feeling as if every picture was either dirt, dead grass, or NO TREES, it is so refreshing to walk around and see green leaves everywhere.

I’m sure the Fall colors will have me head over heels obsessed.

Also, I really enjoyed putting this outfit together. My round purse from Anthropologie is a new investment. I’m not a big bag person. I typically only own 2-3 bags. BUT, in this city, I’ve found it’s really important to have bags of all different sizes and versatile functions— because you carry everything everywhere all the time. I bought this bag because I needed something that would fit a book to read, a camera for pictures, and a laptop just in case I need it. #newnormal

Dress: Madewell | Purse: Anthropologie | Sunglasses: Oui Fresh | Shoes: Birkenstocks | Scarf: Vintage