10 Exciting Ways to Celebrate Galentine's Day

“What the world needs now, is love”. - Jackie DeShannon 

With Galentine’s Day right around the corner, we all have that girlfriend who deserves all the love. Whether she's happily married, single and searching, or could care less about this holiday, at times like this when we are far from loved ones, I think it is more important than ever to spread love. 

I’m sharing 5 ideas on how to celebrate Galentine’s Day with your best girlfriends below. Make sure to head over to Happily Ever Style to check out the remaining 5 ideas!  

Tarot Readings

With many of us wondering about our futures, a virtual tarot card reading might be a fun way to gain insight on any lingering question you and your friends may have on love, career, or family. These two tarot reading websites are completely free and share the significance of each card you pull. Hop on a Zoom call and share your screen with your girlfriends. Then take turns reading your possible futures out loud. Feel free to do this on your own as well! 

Do tarot card reading virtually in the links below:

Make Dinner Together

Have you ever sent your friend a link to a recipe telling them to try it? Do you feel like it's more fun to cook for two? Well if you answered yes to any of those questions, making dinner together via FaceTime or Zoom with your girlfriend is the perfect way to celebrate Galentine's Day! Take a look on Pinterest and find a recipe that both of you want to try. Grab all the groceries you need and set a time to start making dinner together. While you're chopping up onions and sauteing the ingredients, you can have a good conversation with your friend. Once the meal is prepped, light some candles and maybe even grab a glass of wine then have dinner together.

Take a Mood-Boosting 305 Virtual Workout Class

Ready to lift your mood up and while burning calories?! Well, you have got to try out a fun 305 Fitness workout class! You don’t need any equipment at all-just bring the good vibes and a friend! You will have the chance to dance it out while working on that booty. I’ve been a huge fan of 305 Fitness for over three years now and I leave every class feeling more confident than when I started the class!

They are hosting classes virtually and you can book them below:

FaceTime Photoshoot

So let’s be honest, it's hard to get comfortable in front of the camera. Sometimes having a cheerleader is the best way to get the money shot. So why not get on FaceTime with your best girlfriend and have a fun photoshoot? You two can both help find inspiration for each other through Pinterest, put on some makeup, do your hair, and even put on a fun outfit. Take turns being the photographer while giving your best friend some direction. Every time you see a good shot of her, make sure to screenshot. Once you have the shots done, text them over to each other and use some of the following editing apps that I love. Have a fun photoshoot! 

Lightleap | Snapseed | Color story | Photofox

Watch your favorite High School Chick Flicks

I don't know about you but the chick flicks back when I was in high school were so much better than they are today! I'm talking ‘Mean Girls’, ‘13 Going on 30’, and ‘How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days’. Now I'm a 90s baby so your chick flick favorites may be different than mine but watching them with your best girlfriend is a fun way to celebrate Galentine's Day. Take some time to make a list of Rom-Coms that you both really loved during high school and have a retro night. Grab some popcorn, your favorite snacks, and cozy up on the couch. Get ready to flashback to high school! 

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity 

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

*I get a commission for purchases made through links in this post*

7 Tips To Know When Buying An Apartment In New York

Part 1: What you need to know before looking for an apartment 

If you asked me five years ago if I was planning to purchase an apartment in New York, I would have laughed in your face. The idea always seemed so unattainable and only for the “rich”. But a few years ago, I began thinking about what it would be like. New York has always felt like home to me and I wanted to make it official. Trust me, I am not rich and I am here to tell you that it is possible!

There are several reasons I wanted to purchase an apartment in New York. Them being: 

1. I knew it would be a good investment (in 10 years, the apartment I purchased had doubled in value) 

2. Ultimately it would be cheaper than paying rent every month. Yes, paying a mortgage with maintenance can be cheaper than paying rent! Crazy right? 

3. I knew I wasn’t planning on moving out of New York anytime soon. 

I knew I wanted an apartment BUT I did not know where to begin, especially because this was my first home purchase ever. It was very overwhelming! I had so many questions like “So what does it take to own an apartment?, what should I know about before looking?, what is a good interest rate for a loan? where do I even get a loan?”. Let’s just say that I learned a lot in this process and did a lot of googling. 

In this blog post I’m going to be 100% honest and share all the things I wish I knew before purchasing a co-op apartment in New York. I am hoping that this can be a good guide for you whether you are considering the idea of purchasing a co-op in New York OR if you are in the process of buying. 

First things first, here is a list of things you need to know before even beginning your search.

1.Figure out where you want to live

You need to know what area you want to live in. What borough in New York and even within that, the exact neighborhood. You can look in a couple of areas, but the more specific you are, the easier your search will be. 

Once you have narrowed down the neighborhood, casually take a look on Streeteasy and check out the price range. This will give you a realistic idea about what neighborhoods are in your price range. Also, keep an eye out for maintenance fees (this is a monthly fee that covers operating expenses, property taxes, etc. that will be needed to pay on top of a mortgage) and the percent you need to put down. In New York, most apartment purchases require a down payment of 10%- 30% (most being 20%). 

Just as an overview idea, I have created a table below to show how much a down payment would be for the following prices. 

2. Get to know your credit score

If you are considering getting a loan, your credit score is pretty important. Also, collect the value of all of your other assets (401k, Roth IRA, stocks, etc.). When applying for a mortgage, this total sum of your worth matters and is required to give. So do the pre-work and have this information ready. 

3. Take a look at your savings and liquid funds & save funds for a down payment

Do you have enough for a down payment? How much more do you need for the payment? Will you have the extra funds needed within the next 3-6 months for closing? One thing I learned was that you don’t need to be 100% there at the time of getting a pre-approval. But you do need to be about 90% there. I spent a lot of time-saving every penny to be able to make my down payment goal. It’s not easy but you get used to asking yourself “do I need this?” and saying no.

You must have liquid cash! What does this mean? The money that you put as a down payment (most likely 20% of the value) must be liquid at the time when you put the offer in. I always thought that it was better to have your savings in a 401k or Roth account. Well, when you are looking to purchase a home, it is equally as important to have liquid funds. However, you can withdraw from your retirement accounts by paying a penalty fee. 

4. Find a realtor

This one is super important! If you don’t have a good realtor, your experience will not go well. This person has to understand what you are looking for, have patience, know about the areas you are interested in, be honest, and reliable. I found my realtor through Streeteasy. You can find realtors through word of mouth, Streeteasy, Zillow, or other listing sites. Throughout my apartment search, I saw my realtor more often than I saw my friends. Your realtor should also have a good relationship with others in the industry and be able to give you recommendations on lawyers, mortgage advisors, contractors. You will need to hire other professionals in this process so references will be helpful. It is not necessary to go through their recommendation but it is a nice place to start when researching. 

5. Get pre-approved for a home loan

Every realtor you speak with will ask you this question- “are you pre-approved?”. This is something you must-do if you are looking to get a mortgage from a bank. If you are not pre-approved, you will need to work on getting approved first before moving forward. If you are approved, your apartment hunt can continue and you will have a better idea of your financial capabilities. Most lenders can only lock in a rate for 90 days (some can for 120 days). This means you will have to close on a property before the rate expires. For many people that is not enough time to find a home you love. This is perfectly okay! Getting pre-approved does not mean that you are locking a rate in- it is more to know how much you can borrow from a lender. However, you may need to do another pre-approval/ credit check once you find a property after the date expires. 

You will need the following information to get pre-approved

1. Assets information

2. DTI- debt to income ratio percentage of gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments, including credit cards, student loans, and car loans. Banks prefer the rate to be below 36%. See a calculator here to calculate your DTI. The lender will calculate this as well.

3. Credit score- most lenders will do a credit check. You have a 30-day window to get several credit checks without it hurting your credit score. 

4. SHOP AROUND for the best mortgage rate- the biggest thing I learned! During these 30 days, shop around with several different lenders to get the lowest interest rate! You can even tell lenders what your best rate has been to see if they can match it. 

6. Build a solid budget for a home

So how much money should you save up/ have saved up to own a co-op in New York?

Honestly, a lot but remember you are investing. This chart shows a rough financial idea of how much a down payment can be. A better estimate can be provided on the property listing once you put in your interest rate. 

This can range based on the co-op itself. Note that the chart only goes to $999k (under 1 million). In NYC, there is a million-dollar mansion tax (a one-time sales tax on home sales of $1 million or more in New York state). 

7. View apartments

Now to the actual search! I would begin by looking online on websites like Streeteasy and Zillow. If you see a property you like, save it and send it to your realtor. He/ or she can reach out to the realtor of that property and schedule a viewing. I highly recommend going it through it this way instead of messaging the listing directly. It will prevent any confusion and you will be taken more seriously. I recommend going to open houses during the weekends and see as many properties as you can. The more you see apartments in person, the better idea you will have of what you like and do not.

Check back for part II of this post!

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity 

A Good First....Date

The past year, I have slowly started dating again. It is scary to put yourself out there to possibly get hurt again. Being vulnerable is not easy, but without risking your vulnerability, you may never find love.

“Love is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

— Modern Love , Amazon Series

In today’s society, especially here in New York City, dating is another beast! One would assume, that since there are so many people living here that it would be easy to find love. Well, wrong!! SO wrong! There are millions of people in New York, making the options endless. It’s kind of like going grocery shopping while you're hungry...you want it all and nothing satisfies the craving. People are always on the search with the thought that there is something better, which sometimes makes you miss out on something good.

But that downside also has a positive side to it. With there being so many options, you don’t need to know exactly what you want yet. That’s what dating is for. By dating and meeting new people, you can slowly begin to find characteristics or values that align with yours. Another bonus is that you get to try a ton of new restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and experiences. Some of my favorite places in New York have been found from going on dates.

I worked with Grace Lee from A Good First Date to help me get back out there. Grace has ten years of dating experience and is using her knowledge as a professional matchmaker. She helped me refine my online dating profiles, focus on what my true needs were, and how to weed through options. 

A Good First...Swipe

So what makes a good swipe? For many of us, our natural first impression is based on looks. Yes, this is an important factor but if you are looking for a meaningful connection you might want to look for a little more. Think of three things that are important to you. They could be any of the following examples (doesn’t matter what it is) and try not to deviate from them when swiping.

Height, age, education, job, religion, smoking, drinking, or drug use, looking for a relationship

The list goes on and on. Go through a full profile and find something that you have in common to discuss over messages. If you can’t find one, it’s probably not going to work out so don’t waste your time. If you are looking for something meaningful, good looks aren’t going to be enough.

A Good First...Conversation

You’ve matched! Now what? Having a solid conversation before meeting up is key! There has to be enough interest on both sides to want to actually meet up. Grace’s advice during messaging was what I found most helpful. 

A great way to message is be answering a question, then giving a little bit of information, with a followup question. 

For an example (words that are underlined can be replaced with your own): “My weekend was great. I went apple picking at a place upstate. I picked a lot of Fuji apples, my favorite. Have you ever gone apple picking?” 

My pet peeve with online conversations are when a person doesn’t follow up with a question. It gives off the impression that the interest isn’t there.

Do not spend weeks going back an forth chatting over messages. Ask questions that will help you give you a sense for who he/ she is as a person so you can lead to meeting up.

Ladies, remember it is okay to be the first one to ask a guy out! We don’t have time to wait and if he doesn’t seem too interested in actually meeting up, it may be time to unmatch.

A Good First...Outfit

Going on a first date can be nerve wrecking and so can planning on what to wear! This is one area I know quite a bit about and I have lots of tips for you. 

Date night outfit formulas and where to wear them. My number one rule for a date night outfit is pick out your favorite asset (whether it’s your eyes, waist, butt, collarbone, or hair), then pick something that will flatter your favorite feature. . 

Option 1: Ideal for dinner, theater, something a bit more fancy and upscale. 

Your favorite cocktail dress with a leather jacket. 

Option 2: Ideal for a drinks, movies, an event 

Your favorite pair of jeans, a blouse, pumps or slight heel. 

Option 3: Ideal for coffee or something casual 

Sweater over a skirt or dress, sneakers or boots, bomber jacket.

Shop the black slip dress I am wearing HERE

A Good first…..Date

You’re now at the stage where you are about to go on a date. Congrats! I know it probably was exhausting getting here. There are three things I want you to remember when going on a first date. These are VERY important!

3. Be yourself! You want this person to get to know you because you are FABULOUS and anyone should be lucky to get to know you. Don’t ever talk yourself down or let anyone think you were not good enough if the date doesn’t go well. 

2. Remember that the other person is just as vulnerable as you are. So be kind and treat them how you want to be treated. Never ghost, no matter how many times you may have been ghosted. 

1.This one is important and is the key to being able to truly “date”. Have FUN!!! It’s not a race, not a binding contract, or an interview. It should be light and fun without pressure. If you have fun on the first date, a second one is probably right around the corner.

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity 

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

*I get a commission for purchases made through links in this post*

Tea Time with Kusmi Tea

One thing that cultures from all over the world have in common is tea. It can symbolize so much, a blessing, healing, a bond, and a celebration.

Kusmi tea has a huge collection of teas but their new release, Tropical White Tea,  is incredible and possibly my favorite! It is a white tea with a light blend of mango passion fruit. The flavor is a calm, soothing, and not overpowering.

There are several ways to drink this Kusmi Tea, making it another reason why I like it so much. I’m showing you three different ways today!

MORNING TEA:

Start off your morning with a warm cup of Kusmi Tea. I warm up my water and slip a tea bag in there. It’s a great flavor to start the day off with. You can pair it with eggs and toast or a healthy bowl. The light tea compliments everything.

COOL ICED TEA FOR LUNCH

During lunch, I like to cool off with a nice soothing drink. An iced Kusmi tropical white tea is the perfect combination to go with a salad or sandwich. Another reason I like having this drink during lunch is to help me get over my lunch food coma. The tea gives me a little boost of caffeine to keep me going through the rest of the day.

In the morning, I drop a tea bag in hot water and let it soak for a few hours in the refrigerator. In 2-3 hours, the tea is perfectly cool and refreshing!

COCKTAIL DRINK USING KUSMI TEA

Have you ever used tea in your cocktail drink? Well, neither had I! Then I learned that Kusmi teas could be a great flavor to infuse into alcohol! I created a great mango margarita on the rocks using the Kusmi tropical white tea! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

This is the recipe below:

Ingredients:

1.5 oz tequila of choice

0.5 oz of Grand Marnier

6 oz of Kusmi tropical white tea (cooled)

0.5 oz of lemon juice

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients and shake well. Pour into a glass and add ice. Cut a few slices of fresh mangos and throw in your glass. You can add salt to the rim if you like as well. Take a sip and enjoy!

Some of the reasons I love Kusmi tea are that the teas are 100% natural, there are over 100 different types to choose from, they are subtle (not overpowering like others), and their packaging is beautiful. They are great to gift for anyone and any occasion too!

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

The Ultimate Customized Cards

It’s that time again, Spring is here, birds are starting to chirp, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. The signs of spring also means finals are approaching and so is graduation. The planning takes time but the invites shouldn’t be one of the things you are stressed about. Basic Invite carries a huge array of beautiful options at amazing prices!

What makes Basic Invite different than others?

Almost Unlimited Colors -

Basic Invite allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. You first select a design then you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options. I loved being able to customize my design and see a preview so quickly. Basic Invite allows you to achieve exactly what you want down to the littlest detail. Other vendors don’t have a color range as wide as theirs. Not only is Basic Invite a luxury experience, you can still get affordable graduation invitations exactly how you want them.

Image provided by Basic Invite

Image provided by Basic Invite

Custom Samples -

Have you ever create a beautiful card or invite but did not want to commit to buying 100+ without seeing it first? Or worse, bought cards to find out they look awful in real life?

Basic Invite allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before they ever have to place their final order. I LOVE this feature because the wonderful thing about real life cards are the feeling of them. You can change details from color to the paper quality after you receive your sample. You can host a surprise graduation party invitations without the surprise of what you invitation will look like!

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes -

Basic Invite seals the deal beautifully with their envelopes, making the invitations feel extra special. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes. You’ll have everyone attend your graduation party with these college graduation party invitations options!

Image provided by Basic Invite

Image provided by Basic Invite

Address Capturing Service -

Do you ever get overwhelmed when collecting addresses? Well, Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses. These addresses are securely stored in your account without stressing! During the design process, you can easily select the address. So cool right? Basic Invite also offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders!!

Foil -

I’m all about being extra! Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. Customers can choose flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs. The options are so great!

 I recently have been on a kick to work on my branding, making it more “me”. Over the last few years, I have grown personally so I wanted my new business cards to reflect that. Basic Invite was so helpful in this journey because the site is so seamless to use! I also found that the prices were very affordable, especially for the quality! I created my own design and inserted into their blank template. It took no more than 5 minutes total to checkout and the cards were at my doorstep in less than a week! I am beyond happy with my new business cards and can’t wait to create future invitations and cards!

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

 Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity

*This post was sponsored by Basic Invite, however opinions are my own.*

26 A Year of Growth, Heartbreak, & Love

This time last year, I had a job I hated, was head over heels in love, and didn’t know what I wanted to do next in my life. Today, I am a year older, possibly a little wiser, have a new job that I don’t hate, single, and motivated to find what is next for me in this thing called life.

Growth

A year ago there were a lot of changes going on in my career. I had a job that I hated! I didn’t hate the work I did, I actually enjoy designing, but I felt unappreciated and taken advantage of everyday. Day in and day out, that began to take a toll out in me. I left work feeling unhappy and angry. Every morning I woke feeling so unmotivated and dreaded walking into those glass doors. At the same time, I was comfortable and could do my job in my sleep. It was easy and not to brag, but I was damn good at it too. Trying to find a new job just seemed like more work and truthfully I was too lazy to put in the effort. But earlier this year, something clicked and I was like “I NEED to get the hell out of here”. It was made clear that I wasn’t taken seriously and I never would no matter how hard I worked. I learned a huge lesson- when a new role opens up at work and additional tasks are assigned to you, right then and there, discuss your future with the company and discuss compensation. I failed to do that because I assumed it was coming. Remember, you all deserve the world and to feel appreciated! Ask yourself, would you treat you the way your employer is? If the answer is no, then you need to find somewhere/ someone who will. 

I decided to finally do something and began interviewing again. I got my portfolio together and decided that I was worth it. I was my motivation for a better future. It wasn’t easy but boy was I motivated to do this for myself. Today, I have a job where I am more appreciated and don’t dread walking into every morning. Every job has its moments but I am so much happier. As far as my future goes, I am not sure where I will go or what I will do next but I am excited to find out.

How do you move on after you realize that person didn’t feel the same way?

The hardest part was losing a best friend

Heartbreak

Last year, I was in love with someone who I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. How do you move on after you realize that person didn’t feel the same way? A breakup is never an easy thing to get over but I truly believe every heartbreak makes you a stronger person. A heart is such precious cargo that people take for advantage.

Let’s back up here for a second. I met my ex about two years ago and things were perfect for a long time...until they weren’t. The relationship started going downhill earlier this year. I should’ve seen the signs when I found out he applied for a job in another state behind my back. And I should’ve really ended it when he took the job without thinking about our future. But a part of me wasn’t ready to let go. I’m human and wasn’t ready to admit the relationship was over. I loved so hard that I thought we could make long distance work. I honestly think I could have, but the hard part is that both parties have to want it bad enough to make it work. I quickly learned that I was the only one who wanted a future for us. That was a really harsh fact to learn (even though I think I knew deep down inside the whole time).

I think the hardest part was losing my best friend or who I thought was my best friend. In the beginning it was difficult not having him there to talk to all day long, especially things that were special between just us two. I felt like I was lying to the world every time I smiled. It was a rough time. But the truth is, I feel less lonely now than I did when I was in a relationship. I feel free and more myself than when I was in a relationship. It doesn’t quite make sense but sometimes it feels lonelier when you are with someone who isn’t mentally or emotionally there in the relationship.

I learned a lot from my ex. I learned that I do want to have a family and build a life with someone. That was something I didn’t really see for myself because I have always been an independent woman. Whether that happens for me or not, I still have hope that there is a soulmate for everyone.

For anyone going through a breakup- remember you will get through it and love again. Time heals all wounds and you have the power to find yourself after a heartbreak. If you are going through a breakup, here is a playlist I created that really helped me.

Love

I am so grateful for all the wonderful people who are still in my life today. I have family all over the world who are there no matter what! I have friends who I feel are my sisters that help me get through the biggest emotional hurdles. Last but not least, I have my blog and all my readers who motivate me everyday to share my story. My heart is so full of love because of all of you. I’m happy to influence even one person because you never know how one action can change another person’s world. I am so blessed to see another year and I can’t wait to share more with you this year. Thank you from the bottom of my gushy heart to each one of you!!

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO,

Krity

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

*I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post*