iCovet // 10.22.11

Aw yeah. 

My favorite things this week. 

I know the week's not over, but it's been saturated with goodness and I'm bursting at the seams.

1

Lush drinks with colleagues and a client at the semi-new Chelsea hotspot, Duo.

French Martinis are still everything.

2

An afternoon in midtown NYC. I'm a sucker for midtown.

3

A quiet escape with a latte and a decadent treat in Juan Valdez.

4

 An important reminder to forget about just black and white...

(even though all black everything is everything.)

❤

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Ten Years Later

Ten years ago, I turned 16. I put on my favorite skirt, did the worst make up I could do (also known as the best make up a high schooler could do), and went to school proud that today was my birthday.

Ten years ago, my best friend met me in the cafeteria with something called "Sex Cake" even though none of us has experienced the title. She wished me a happy birthday and we indulged in our fat kid ways, eating chocolate before first period.

Ten years ago, my history teacher was called outside the classroom by our principal (the perks of small schools). He came back in with a somber expression and turned on the television. He told us there was something tragic was happening in New York City. As a classroom, we all watched the news.

Ten years ago, sitting in my history class, I watched the second plane fly into The World Trade Center. I blinked, not quite sure what had happened. And then watched Channel 5 replay the footage over, and over, and over again. It never began to feel real.

Ten years ago.

Ten years later, I turned 26. I put on my most comfortable leggings, threw on some boots and a tank, and went to brunch with my roommate. I celebrated the night before with good friends, and resolved to go home early.

Ten years later, I decided not to plan anything, or do anything over the top for this birthday. Partly because I work in a job where I plan every last detail of other people's lives. Partly because it felt right not to.

Ten years later, I cringed at the idea of friends on the train to celebrate me, should anything occur at the hands of the folks who vowed to come back into our lives as abrasively as they did the first time. I stayed in my borough, traveled only within walking distance of my apartment, and hoped others did the same.

Ten years later, I silently celebrated life and my loved ones. I welcomed their well wishes, and sent along my own as a thank you. I prayed for serenity, patience, and longevity. I prayed for you. I prayed for them.

Ten years later.

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Girl About Town: NYFW + an Essence Mag Feature

I feel pretty blessed that a large part of my everyday job revolves around planning for and being at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week every 6 months. While the work that goes into a successful event isn't always glamorous, I seem to find myself enjoying the finer things when the moment strikes.

Case in point: this girl is featured on Essence Magazine's Street Style coverage for fashion week. The photographer, Darío of Art-X Studio was SUPER sweet during the quick shoot. That's my new fashion week boo.

[via check out photos 40-43]

What I'm wearing: 

Express button down & cami, Club Monaco Skirt,

 Coach boots, David Yurman Jewels, Louis Vuitton Neverfull, & Sunnies from UO

Look, Ma! Essence Mag calls me a writer!

Don't mind me and my geeked out response to this love - I'm just a girl from the suburbs trying to do it in the city.

xoxo

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Dear Girls: Carrie Bradshaw's NYC doesn't actually exist

This is an open letter to all the young women. You know, the ones watching old episodes of Sex and the City, dreaming of the day they can move to New York and live in Carrie Bradshaw's world.

I just want to be clear - that world does not exist.

[via]

At one point, I was you. Living in my sleepy little suburban town just outside of Boston, watching Sex and the City episodes all day long when I wasn't at work or shopping. And I slowly became obsessed with the idea of switching cities. I thought I was in the wrong one - I thought NYC was for me the way it was for Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha because of the way they lived.

Then I moved here. I moved into the most disgusting 3-bedroom apartment in Queens with two random girls who couldn't speak English. At night, the bugs and rodents came out and I was convinced that this could't be real life. Certainly not Carrie's.

When I moved into a new apartment with a very nice (and gluten free) roommate, I started trying to find Carrie's NYC. Almost every experience pointed to the fact that it wasn't real. At first, I discovered small reasons, like the fact that Bed is closed... apparently for a tragic reason. Coffee Shop is not nearly as cozy and fun as it looks thanks to the rude hosts and hostesses who think they're models (as someone in the industry, I can safely say most are not). Bungalo 8 was actually a good time (before it closed), despite Carrie running out. And Magnolia cupcakes are completely worth the wait if you skip the tourist attraction in The Village.

More importantly, no one has the funds to enjoy night after night out on the town with your girlfriends. Especially not aspiring writers who also have bills to pay (I speak from experience). And sure, there are happy hours to make a girl's night out more affordable, but they're so crowded that sometimes it's just not fun.

And finally, sometimes New York is just not fun - mainly because it forces you to really examine the relationships in your life. You'll go through the ups and downs of boyfriends, fauxlationships, situationships, and just plain bad dates. You'll separate from good friends and then reunite. You'll love your job and then hate it, and maybe love it again. You'll realize you're going through a quarter-life crisis and question everything you've ever done. And you'll resent Carrie for the amazing times she portrayed on the small screen... And then you'll reach a plateau where you'll fall in love with everything again.

As I sit in my bedroom post #HurricaneIrene and watch a rerun of the season finale, I'm thankful. It shows my favorite protagonist walking down the street with You've Got the Love blasting in the background. I can't help but smile knowing that Carrie Bradshaw's New York City doesn't exist, but mine does. And that's pretty great.

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Girl About Town: Saturdays Surf NYC

When Jay-Z wrote about Saturdays Surf NYC on his acclaimed lifestyle blog, Life + Times, I knew had to visit. My desire remained for two reasons: because I think anything that appears on Life + Times is instantly cooler, and because I drank the Hova Kool Aid. Regardless, the experience was everything I hoped it'd be, in an extremely understated way.

Outside, men sat with their coffee cups and enjoyed the sun on their face in this strange turn for fall that the August weather has taken.

Inside, the space is long and narrow.

A model watched a man (unidentified to me) leaf through her portfolio and tap on the photos he favored as she outlined her previous experience.

Customers talked surfboards and paraphernalia, never bristling once at the cost of a board (the least expensive ringing up at just under $700) or a book.

The greatest thing about this little coffee and surf shop was the barista. Oddly handsome and slightly hairy, he charmed everyone that went by. Men, women, children, pets... it didn't matter. Everyone was friends, and like Cheers, everyone seemed to know your name. And if he didn't, he asked. He wanted to carry on some interesting banter about the weather or the "big time" amount of ice coffee they had behind the bar. He was a reminder that on a busy Tuesday afternoon in SoHo that there is always time for a genuine connection between two people... He was a reminder to slow down and smell the surf wax.

So I did.

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New York has broken me

You could call me an "emotional chick". My father does.

I cry at (almost) everything. In fact, there's no way I can get through an episode of Grey's Anatomy without announcing to my roommate "I'm crying now" so we don't have to sit there in awkward silence while I try to discretely blow my nose and wipe my eyes.

The sweetest sentiment can move me to tears. From a thoughtful comment by one of my girls to a "this made me think of you" trinket from my mother, tears are likely to bubble up quickly.

With good news comes tears of joy. And goodbyes? Fuggetaboutit.

But I'm writing this post because I'm convinced that living in New York, this beloved city, has broken me.

Broken.

I cry for them. The people we all so often come face to face with, begging for money with a song, a baby, an apology for the inconvenience.

And when I hear the familiar sounds of a song I was raised on, I find myself tearing up, reaching for my wallet, and giving anything I can afford to give.

A blind man gets on your Astoria-bound N train with a beautiful, broad smile and starts serenading you. When he graciously thanks the man across from me who caught him as the train swerved and he couldn't see to find the pole to steady himself. And I find myself tearing up at the tragic scene, a happy, homeless man singing "What a Wonderful World" with nuances of Louis Armstrong - well, I'm convinced you do anything you can to make his song a reality.

Perhaps this is the naivety of a girl raised in the suburbs of Boston... But my parents raised me well. And I know good music when I hear it.




Written on my iPhone

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An obsession with palm trees

I find myself in Santa Barbara, California for work... and I find myself falling in love.

Not with a boy, not with a dog, not with a band, but with the lifestyle. I’ve spent time enjoying palm trees as far as the eye can see, terracotta rooftops, cactus growing like shrubs, clear skies and amber sunsets as a backdrop to a sandy beach, and smiles on every street corner. Everything moves at a slower pace because no one is in a rush to do anything. A man on a street corner on the phone with his colleague was a rarity, and even then his conversation consisted of things like “I’m going to enjoy lunch and will get you an answer after my break.” The owners of an adorable Wine Tasting Room at the highest point of a pier off the Santa Barbara boardwalk talked passionately about their lives: their winery, the berries, the fermentation, hints of blackcurrant, wet rock, and white floral. They tasted the wine with us, went on the journey with us, and handed over a handful of corks as a reminder of this casual moment within which we enjoyed each other’s silence.

It’s a lifestyle I don’t find myself having the luxury of living in a city like New York City. Everything is urgent; every pace is rushed like a speeding car racing to get there first. Vacation is a distant thought, maybe even laughable because who has the time to take care of themselves? Lunches are always for working: taken at your desk or on the phone or skipped all together. Small business owners seem few and far between. Not content with their “small business” but looking for ways to become bigger, better. It’s never about sustaining. It’s about beating. And silence is uncomfortable.

“This place, it’s like my home [Weston]... except on a beach!” I commented to my colleague over a glass of pinot noir as we watched the sunset over the water and squealed every time a pelican took a dive or a seal came up to play. Everything was idyllic. I left Santa Barbara longing for the free-spirited passion displayed by those living there.

We encountered numerous people talking fondly of “their years in New York” prior to moving to California. When asked would they ever return to NYC the answer was always an enthusiastic “No!” with a smile. The slower pace was calmer. Healthier. Easier.

As I sit on a Delta Air Lines flight listening to an album entitled “Peace, Love, & Ukulele”, I can’t help but wonder: despite all I have been awarded since moving to NYC (trips to London, Dubai, Jordan, Aspen, and now California), is there more? Am I missing something?

I’m on a journey to find out.

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Girl About Town: LoveBrownSugar 2 Year Anniversary Event!

On Wednesday, July 6th, I joined the urban-glitterati, who were heading to the Financial District in hoards to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of the fabulous Christina Brown of the lovely blog, LoveBrownSugar.

The event was held at the very swanky Gild Hall at the Thompson Hotel. Greeted by 3 gorgeous women who all smiled happily as they checked my name off at the door, I slipped behind a velvet drape into a very sexy (read: manly) space.

The sophisticated space enveloped me in dark woods and deep brown leathers while the urban-glitterati filtered through the space in bright color blocked outfits, floral frocks, and their favorite pumps.

At the bar, we could indulge in champagne cocktails courtesy of Petiller and adorably petite cupcakes courtesy of DesiLu Sweets. The trickiest part of the night was trying to convince myself that just because the cupcake was bite sized didn't mean I could have 5. I had 5 anyway. Oops.

My girls, Larissa, Allison, and I caught up to the beats of DJ Icon (who I later found out is Mr. LoveBrownSugar, love!) by the bar. We escaped upstairs quickly to use the restroom and our evening ended in a brief iphone photoshoot for Allison's growing fashion blog, Fiercely Fashionable.

I left the party with a stronger obsession over LoveBrownSugar and a lovely little giftbag with items from Uptown Magazine, Indique*, Kinky-Curly, and SpecificBeauty just for me.

For more photos, check out Christina's post on her event or go to her facebook page.

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Style Scene Exhibit

As an avid reader of LoveBrownSugar, I took her post announcing this event to be a personal invitation for me to attend the Style Scene Exhibit at Bar13. Duh.

I attended with my favorite girls and had one of the best New York City Summer Nights... you know, the ones you look forward to as soon as the summer solstice hits? Yeah. One of those.

Co-hosted by Christina of LoveBrownSugar and Lowefactor, the event was put together by The Victoria Agency. Bar13 provided the drinks and a new company by the name of Stuff Yo' Mouth provided light bites (those sliders were to die for).

I had hoped for an actual fashion presentation with live models and live fashion, but settled for imagery of each stylist's work scattered alongside the walls of the roofdeck. Young black New York (including my girl Carolyn of the super hip new brand, Aliomi) was out in full force and the night progressed to the sounds of the city and glasses clinking at the bar.

I left with a cute little giftbag with an issue of Uptown Magazine inside. My girls each left with their very own pair of Stevie Boi shades (straight up Snooki style).

© writing with wine. taken with instagram, nashville filter. 

Summer time in New York City reminds me why I moved here - glad to kick if off with this great party by The Victoria Agency, LoveBrownSugar, and the Lowefactor.

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Weekly Gratitude

(1)

Thank you to my company for forcing me on a walking tour of Brooklyn. Came across this vintage vehicle propped up on cement blocks, just aging the day away.

(2)

Thank you, Brooklyn, for opening me up to the joys of antiquing. I'm in need of this gold trunk, but for now I'll settle for this image of a gorgeous vignette of trunks.

(3)

Thank you, Mondrian SoHo, for hosting my Cle de Peau event. Every minute spent in production was almost as stunning as this gorgeous sunset.

And thank you, New York, for legalizing gay marriage. Though I spent the evening at home in Boston with family, I could feel the outcry on Twitter, so I can only imagine the excitement in the city.

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ASH Flagship Opening!

On Wednesday, June 16th, I was invited to attend the ASH Flagship Store Opening.

Seriously such a treat, I was able to indulge in a liquid diet of champagne provided by Nicholas Feuillatte. For those eating, The Bubble Lounge provided super cute canapes. The Whittemore House Salon (a seriously stunning space in the West Village) provided stylists offering cute hair braids and fun feather accents.

And even more exciting, the night offered a super how crowd including the super sweet Christina of LoveBrownSugar and always fierce Claire of The Fashion Bomb. Additionally, appearances by the gorgeous Solange Knowles and Adrienne Bailon rounded the night off right.

[Don't mind my amateur photography skills, I'm just trying to work it out!]

Beyond the fun atmosphere, I was entirely smitten with the great shoes and accessories. All of the pieces were interesting, and studded to perfection, but I completely die over the Vera handbag.

[photo via the ASH digital look book]

For even better images of the event, check out the photos uploaded to LoveBrownSugar's facebook page. And be sure to swing by the new store which can be found behind a cute little storefront at 44 Mercer in SoHo New York.

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I Love Love...

...I really do.

And to hear about a failed love, or a love gone wrong (they are different) really breaks my heart. In a perfect world (like the one I grew up in, within which I have two parents who are more in love now than ever), I would imagine everyone is in love like the people who live (or work) in the building depicted in this image... so in love they had to shout it from (or write it on) the rooftops.

"Love You" written on a building just below the Mondrian SoHo. I love the effort to spread love.

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iCovet Fridays, v.3

Here's what I'm coveting this week:

90's Music




I blame this on Something Borrowed, which features a scene with a great 90's cover band playing some of my absolute favorite childhood songs. Since seeing the movie (and listening to Hey Jealousy and Hows it Going to Be on repeat), I've spent way too much of my free time (read: the few minutes between when I finish work and pass out) googling "top songs of the 90's" and taking trips down memory lane.

Dates with the Girls

[Yeslan, Margaret (aka Maggie) and myself]

We don't really have the chance to do it often enough because of what I like to call "growing pains" but dates with the girls make my life feel fuller. There's nothing like Margaret's work stories (oh hey Maggie!), Yeslan's to-the-point questions, Laura's budgets, Larissa's side eyes, and Allie's vino. Side note for my girls: we need to do better at group pictures. #Wompwomp.

Pinterest

[via]

Entirely obsessed. Entirely. Pinterest is a "virtual pinboard" and community where people collect images across the web that are inspiring, amusing, or just a little weird. If you can't tell by the ruffles and flowers, my collections tend to be on the girly side. Looking to join? Leave a comment with your email for an invite!

Whats on you coveting this week?

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iCovet Fridays // v.2

Here's what I'm loving this week:


Cocktails with Belle

I had the opportunity to attend Cocktails with Belle this week and it was such a treat! Being surrounded by beautiful black women all aspiring to do huge things was just my idea of a great Monday night!

ink48 - A Kimpton Hotel

Cocktails with Belle was held at ink48's Press Lounge on the 16th Floor. With a super sexy interior, stunning views of the city, the most delicious Peach Cosmopolitan I've ever tasted, it took the edge off a rough Monday in the office. My girl, AllieVino and I made a vow to come back immediately. See you soon, Press Lounge!

about.me

I found out about about.me by Julia Allison, who was working closely with the brand when they first launched. It's a great little website that allows you to make a completely free splash page about you. I recommend it to everyone wanting to buy a domain for themselves but can't quite get up the courage. With lovely backgrounds and a super easy to follow set up process, it's a great little tool for building yourself as a brand.

Fridays

for the record, i hate this song. but it's friday.... 

also, i'm positive those kids aren't old enough to drive, let alone in a convertible.

I don't know about you, but for me the month of May has been full of overtime, no sleep, yelling clients, and LONG conference calls. It's Friday afternoon and I'm counting down the minutes until my weekend. I hope you are too!

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Saturday with Belle

On Saturday, May 7th, I attended the first ever Rising Affluent Conference with my girl, Larissa. Since the two of us are working on a project (which will be announced at a later date) we decided to take advantage of this day of advancement and achievement. How did we find out? A Belle in Brooklyn, of course.

[via]

Larissa introduced me to Belle (government name: Demetria Lucas) a while ago as a writer and blogger to watch. Bonus? She's a bougie black girl who loves a Louis and some fierce shoes. Of course I was hooked.

I immediately started following Belle on twitter, and going through back entries of her blog. I checked out her features on Essence (which was incredibly tolling as she publishes the hot man of the month) and became a literary groupie. You see, Belle's career - it's exactly what I'd hoped for myself in moving to New York City. My pathway has been a bit bumpy on the way there, but people like her remind people like me that anything is attainable.

So, enter the Rising Affluent Conference. Larissa and I are sitting at a full table of very nice women, networking and such, when a girl comes over and mumbles something I can't hear. I turn to Larissa and raise my eyebrows like what? as her eyes start growing exponentially. "Belle... is ... reading... from ..." she stammers and before she can finish her sentence we've both jumped out our chairs. Suddenly we realize it's rude to leave without saying goodbye to the women at our table so we mumble something about Belle giving a reading upstairs and they all seem to follow suit.

You see, the announcement was slightly premature, and poor Belle had an audience of people watching her as she tried to find a place for the print of her gorgeous book cover. I watch her as she gives the nicest side eye I've ever seen to the camera man, who places the print on a chair, and then smile at the Conference director, who brings in an easel. As someone working in events, I smile too.

She begins shortly after that, introducing herself as Demetria but I can only think of her as Belle. She talks of her inspiration and this is where I melt into a puddle of excitement because it's full of things I can relate to (especially the bit about Waiting to Exhale. Black girls, if you haven't read this, please find it immediately).

An avid Sex & The City fan, she notes she was always waiting for their fierce black girlfriend to pop into the picture with a storyline rivaling everyone else's. She never really could get into Girlfriends the same way and neither could I. As much as I love Toni, Lynn, Maya and Joan; they really can't stand up to our beloved Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha and Carrie. She wanted to bring the voice of that black girlfriend we missed to fruition... so she wrote. Here she is now, with a book deal signed, her first piece (entitled A Belle in Brooklyn, The Go-to Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life) completed, and her second piece in the works. She's an inspiration.

Belle read from a chapter entitled "My Father Called Me a Party Girl". She read the piece from her iPad, which blinked away with every awestruck tweet from the girls in the room, reacting to the piece, or just her presence. When she finished her reading, which spoke of "Black Melrose" (aka DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn), her party girl past, and blood orange margaritas; I vowed never to let a day go by that I didn't chase my dream and have fun doing it.

I had the opportunity to ask one question: "Hi Belle (oops, I guess I meant Demetria), my name is Maiah Johnson and you're an inspiration!" I stammered. "I'm just wondering how you keep it all balanced? You know, the blog, and your book, and your full time job 'cause you have to pay rent..."

She smiled graciously, "oh, balancing all this? Trust me, the rent is paid."

[via]

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iCovet Fridays: v.1

I started this series on several old blogs. And by several I mean at least 3. I've decided to try and start it again, this time inspired by my girl over at Everyday to Runway.

So, here goes!

Chocolat Restaurant Lounge

I went with my favorites as a little treat for ourselves and fell.in.love. Delicious food, nice and attentive waitstaff, and great design.

The Dude Society

 
I'm actually obsessed with The Dude Society, discovered through a lovely Doctor friend I went to college with. Even though it's an "Online Magazine for Guys" I can't help but get my fix!

My Uncorrected Proof of Erica Bauermeister's (love) new book Joy for Beginners.

Just came in the mail this morning! Thanks Goodreads & Putnam!

Gilt City: New York & Boston

 I'm a little bit obsessed with Gilt City suddenly. I have yet to actually purchase something but I've come super close, including concert tickets to Sade in Boston for my Mom & Dad as a joint mother's day/father's day gift. The response was "Maiah, we are old people. We can't hang on a Wednesday night." ... Valid. Regardless, I'm still stalking Gilt City for the perfect deal!

Let me know what you think of iCovet Fridays! I'll try to keep it up :)

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I worry that my idea of love...

... is not very realistic.

I blame that on Carrie and Big.

And couture. 

 

  

  

 

all images via vogue, june 2008

But according to my mother's wise words - it never looks like what you expect or want it to.

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Work & Play

I want to be able to call myself a writer, but I have yet to reach the frequency with which I think "a writer" should be writing. This is self imposed of course, but still is my reasoning all the same.

When I'm not writing, or trying to write, or thinking about writing, or cursing myself for not writing or thinking about writing... I'm working. Like yesterday, when I managed a team of models handing out the YSL Manifesto in NYC. I had several lovely visitors, but my favorite photo documentation is of Dushane. 

If I were a fashion blogger, I'd be so proud of myself and my photo taking skills. But because I'm not a fashion blogger/photographer, I'm even prouder. Makes me want to buy a fancy camera and do a lot of pretending in the streets.

xx,
MJ

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This must be old love.

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Scary Age No More

I used to be terrified of the age 25. Seriously, 25 was my extra scary age. I used to think, “ohmygah*, 25?!!”

Every birthday celebrated felt like a minor death sentence. It was all very dramatic – like, Elle Woods breaking up with her boyfriend dramatic.





I didn’t even celebrate 24. I worked and went to bed instead (ahem, the 25 year old me thinks the 24 year old me is super-lame).

But to be clear, I cemented 25 as my Armageddon back when I turned 18. I had the coolest girlfriends, I was in a super hot a cappella group, and I basically thought I was the shit. What could get better than being 18 and extra hot*? Clearly, I was blinded.

If I could give my 18 year old self a side eye* I would. Now, that’s not to say I don’t have the occasional “eep! I’m 25!” moment. The most clear being the time I wouldn’t buy candy for some boy’s “basketball team” on the street and he called me an “uptight old head*” .......... iCant.

That said, being 25 (I celebrated my birthday in September) is so rich and ripe.

• It’s like being a teenager, except you're 5 years from 30.
• It’s like being in college except you live in the city, pay rent and big girl bills, and have lots of sex.
• It’s like being a foolish hot mess, except for when you’re at the office, because then you’re buttoned up and super fly.
• It’s like being version 2.5 or 3GS (but not quite 4G because I’m not quite 30).
• It’s like being “MJ Fadeaway” + “Maiah on Fiyah” + “Ms. Johnson (if you’re nasty)” all the time.

...and I love it.


What was your scary turned favorite age?

---

*"ohmygah" - copyright 2003 – 2010
*I was actually fat with a pretty face. But still. Confidence is a hell of a drug.
*What’s a side eye? Click here.
*What’s an old head? Click here.

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