DIVYA BAHL

Understanding US Debt

I think this picture is going viral. It’s a simpler way to understand how much in debt we are as a country. It’s worth a minute to read! 

New York City Adventure Club

Living in Manhattan, it can often be hard organize outdoor activities and sports. Being raised in Seattle, all people do is hike, bike, boat, rock climb, etc. 

Therefore, when Raina and I moved to New York and started working 9-6 jobs, (where we sat at desks all day) we decided we should  get our friends together to do something active and fun on the weekends. Hence, the “Adventure Club” (formerly named the Hiking Club) was formed. 

With the crazy warm weather in New York, our first hike was last month in December. We traveled out to Garrison, NY on the commuter rail from Grand Central Station to do a moderate hike 15 minutes away from the train station.

Rachael (our group appointed President!) organized the trip and told us to wear layers and bright colors (hence Raina’s bright get-up — we named and called her Rudolph for the entire trip!) to stay warm and avoid hunting season.

This month, we’re going to Brooklyn Boulders to go indoor rock climbing! Our club is growing quite large and we’re even thinking of getting t-shirts so we can wear them when we go camping, snow-tubing, or whatever our adventure of the month is!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 

manasm:

Friends

Besties

leilockheart:

http://xparisisforever.tumblr.com

Thanksgiving 2011 = London and Paris!

I recently visited London over Thanksgiving Break. It was the first vacation I took and paid for all on my own (a big post-grad accomplishment!). Initially, I had some regret missing Thanksgiving since it’s my favorite holiday; However, once I got there I was so excited to be out of America for the week. I hadn’t been back in nearly a decade and this time I was visiting my friend Esha who is there for grad school. Her two cousins, Umang and Varun were also visiting so while she was in class, we visited all the touristy sites (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, etc.).

We also managed to make it out to Paris for a night where I my saw Gaby (she was my freshmen roomie at BU!). We went to the Notre Dame, ate crepes, delicious paninis, bread and wine. I even practiced my horrible french while I was there! 

Esha and I grabbing baguettes, cheese, and wine before we leave Paris!

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur at dusk

I had more pictures of Esha and I at the very first Chanel store on Rue Cambon (Cambon Street in Paris), but it didn’t load so I’ll have to post those later. 

I absolutely loved London and if it wasn’t such an expensive flight, I’d go as often as possible. I took Virgin, and with all the refreshments and movies, the flight was extremely easy (only six hours to get there!). I even sat next to two extremely kind British guys who gave me reco’s on where to go in London (they were really cool! One was a dancer for Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ theater show and the other a dancer for a British boy band!!). 

I got tons of shopping pointers from friends who had been there before and visited the Oxford Street Top Shop, Zara and H&M. I LOVED Harrods and couldn’t believe all the stuff they sold (everything from clothes to grocery to furniture to puppies!). We visited Portobello Road and Borough Market as well as the Winter Festival in Hyde Park. I came back with clothes from Zara, a William and Kate wedding mug (are you surprised? I love them!!), tea from the East India Trading Co. and some chocolate for my family back in Seattle. 

My vacation was much needed and though tiring at times completely worth every penny and hour spent. I really can’t wait to go back again! =) 

I’m visiting home for the holidays and as I was going through old books and papers in my room, I found the journal that I had started writing in at 17. In it, among the pages of teenage angst I found lists. Everything from “Boost of Confidence” Playlist to “Inspiring Quotes.” On one of the pages I found this: 

At 17, What I’ve Learned About Feeling Good About Yourself:

1) Know who you are. Be confident but not condescending. 

2) Realize the world does not revolve around you, your life, or your problems. Don’t always complain. Forget about petty things and ask yourself “in the large scheme of things, does this really matter?” Always focus on the positive.

3) Dream BIG! Set your goals and envision yourself reaching them. Remind yourself of everything what you want to achieve - You can do anything and everything.

4) Thing are not always “great,” “perfect” or even “alright.” But in the end, things are always ok. So if it’s not ok, it’s not the end!

5) Give yourself to others. Help others. This will help not only them, but yourself.

6) Remember that everyday is a new day. Make it count and make a difference. If yesterday sucked, it’s ok because it’s over. Start fresh!

7) Believe in yourself. Don’t let your insecurities get the better of you. If you want others to think you’re awesome, you have to think you’re awesome first.

8) Be bold - take risks

9) Try not to regret, but learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat

10) Always be the flame - not the moth.

I can’t believe I wrote this. At 17. I’m pretty sure this entry was written after receiving a bad grade or wishing some boy asked me to a dance (or something that seemed like the biggest deal in the world, but really wasn’t at all). 

Regardless, reading this particular list six years later took me aback. Was I really this mature at 17? When I reflect on what being 17 is like now, it seems so young and juvenile. Yet apparently I had greater aspirations and belief in myself than I do some days now at 23. 

 Therefore, if you are 17 and reading this, I advise you to pick up a journal and write down your hopes, dreams, goals, observations and thoughts. Even if it is one sentence a day. You might teach yourself something six years from now.  

Get it? If not, listen to this. 

I’m happy to say, “that IS my job!” Or anyone who works in media. 

At least the unlimited internet, cupcakes and coffee part. There is the occasional barista that comes into our lobby, lunch buffets and boozing that occurs as well. 

szymon:

cheeseburger wrapping paper

Is your mouth watering yet? 

Strongly believe in this quote! Taken from blog favorite Fabulous on a Budget

Small Business Saturday - November 26th, 2011

This was the first big campaign I worked on when I started my job, and I am so happy to be part of it again this year. It was even bigger and better. So many celebrities, social influencers and politicians got behind the cause.

President Barack Obama visits Kramerbooks for shopping with his daughters Sasha, and Malia, right, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Washington. (via Business Week)

Small Businesses are what make a community and fuel our economy. Therefore, to help fellow mom and pop shops Amex needed something bigger than the brand - a holiday. Therefore, as a founding sponsor Amex helped to create Small Business Saturday; Providing tons of small businesses with the tools to create digital advertising via Facebook and incentivising cardholders to “shop small,” millions of people came out to support the cause.

Raw talent right there. Loveee JB even more.

• Me: what should I eat for lunch?
• Sumedha: what do you usually eat?
• Me: idk whatevers in the kitchen of our office haha
• Sumedha: haha really? that's so nice you have a stocked kitchen!
• Me: No lol, it's like leftovers from a meeting
• ...
• Me: omg so lucky I just went to the kitchen and there was so much food
• Me: I just got a thai wrap a cookie chips and water!
• Me: yay I dont need to spend $ now
• Sumedha: ugh, we have nothing
• Sumedha: I get no perks
• Me: I'm sure if there are meetings there is food left out!
• Sumedha: Nope...I followed a food cart out of a meeting yesterday and they took it up to a different floor
• Sumedha: It was awkward, I had to pretend I was going in the elevator downstairs...
• Sumedha: I always follow the food...

respectisbeautiful:

A letter 17 year old Zooey Deschanel wrote to the editors of Vogue. Vogue ended up publishing the letter.