Ch-ch-ch-changes!

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I'm moving! Again.

...for those of you who haven't been following my (very back-and-forth) adventures on the blog and/or my Instagram (@danaikadzere) I started off at school in Boston, graduated and moved to NYC for two year, spent two of those summers subleasing in Boston, and then moved full-time back to Cambridge this August. This February, I headed back to NYC for two months (subleasing again). And now I'm moving back to NYC full-time!

Phew. In total, I only lived in my Cambridge apartment for about six months. I'm hoping (and expecting) to spend more time in my next apartment. For starters, staying in NYC instead of subleasing in Boston.

It will be a relief to have just one home for a while and to not have to pack up everything I own and unpack it all again every few months. Plus, moving is expensive!

              

I love both Boston and NYC, however, so I'm glad that work will keep me connected with Boston even when I'm not there every day.

For those of you who also have a move coming up, here are a few of my (hard-earned) moving tips!

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Juice Press comes to Boston!

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It's a new month and a new year. Happy 2017!

A lot of us like to take advantage of the new year to make positive changes. For many, that means making changes to improve our health!

Health affects everything - productivity, mood, energy, etc. It's so, so, so important. I can't stress it enough!

Health also encompasses a lot - mental, physical, emotional, and financial health all matter. There are so many great resolutions that can improve your health and they're not all about hitting the gym more.

You can eat more fruits and vegetables. You can get more sleep. You can take up meditation. You can work towards a healthier work-life balance. You can pay attention to your relationships. You can save. You can indulge in bubble baths and quiet cups of tea. There are so may options!

For those of us who resolve to eat healthier, it can be tough to stick to it when the realities of life get in the way. We get busy with work, school, and socialization and buying, preparing, and cooking fresh ingredients on a regular basics can get tough. Or, for those who aren't used to cooking healthy food, it can be tough to come up with ideas of what to make. Sometimes it just feels like too many decisions and that's when the temptation to throw in the towel rears its head.

When eating healthy doesn't feel super fun or I'm super busy, falling back on healthy meal delivery services or healthy cafes is really helpful for me. When I lived in NYC, there were great health food cafes everywhere. Boston has its fair share, too, but many of my favorites were missing.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I'm obsessed with Juice Press and, in particular, their Raw Falafel. After much waiting, Juice Press has finally come to Boston!

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Style Post: Winter Wear

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I love winter! But now that my favorite part of the season (the holiday season) is over, the temperatures are starting to fall hard and fast. Brr!

It's getting colder than ever, but that's no reason to hibernate indoors for months on end or to forgo anything resembling style in favor of massive muumuus and anything else to keep us warm. 

Especially in winter, with its short days and uptick in colds and flus dragging the general mood down, I like to wear bright colors to add some cheer to every day.

A big new Primark just opened in Boston this past fall (or possibly already in the summer) and I found this bright yellow sweater there! It's the perfect amount of pep for a grey winter day and it's warm, too. 

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My Favorite Things to do on a Cold Day!

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The polar vortex is returning!

I still remember the iconic day of polar vortex-dom for me last winter - we decided to go to brunch, completely failing to check the weather forecast and relying instead on the beautiful sun shining in on us from my window. We bundled up - it was winter in NYC, after all - and made ourselves on our way, only to be greeted by a blast of icy cold air the moment we stepped outside.

But this is brunch, guys, and we're not quitters.

Luckily, I lived really close to the subway station, so getting on the train wasn't a problem. On the other end, however, our brunch destination of choice - we had decided to try Siggy's Good Food at 292 Elizabeth Street in NoHo - was a bit of a walk from the subway. That, or I had terribly misdirected us, as would not be atypical of my navigation skills.

...I'm going to go with Siggy's just wasn't close to the subway.

It took us over thirty minutes to make it from the subway stop to Siggy's. We stopped in every third or fourth storefront to huddle for warmth, before sprinting a bit further down the sidewalk. Our longest stop was in a very heavily perfumed Hollister, where we tried to see if we could zip ourselves into one coat for more warmth. It turns out, two people trying to wear one coat do not have an easy time staying upright. That failed.

Anyway, finally we arrived at Siggy's, a hipsterish cafe well-suited to the neighborhood and run by alien-loving hippies, and had a delicious, and most importantly, warm, brunch. I drank so much tea.

Follow me on Instagram @danaikadzere for more photos of my eats and adventures! 

I chose the Splendid Raw Slaw Salad with Sesame Kale and Cabbage. I'm incredibly picky about dressings and if it isn't amazing, I don't want it. I really liked the dressing that came with this salad. Whoa!

I also quite enjoyed the alien smiling down on me from the wall and, most of all, thawing out near the roaring fireplace.

Still, going on a let's-find-the-new-brunch-spot adventure isn't what I'd recommend as a typical polar vortex day activity, especially when temperatures are so low that my roommate took a "cold day" (think: 'snow day') off from work last week, because he refused to leave the house. Here are some cozier alternatives!

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Style Post: Fall Fashion

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It's finally fall! I love the crisp morning air, the leaves changing colors and tumbling down around me, and pumpkin spice everything. Also the fashion!

Fall Fashion: Boho Chic Dresses in Autumn

There's something about the beginning of a new season that feels so magical. It makes me feel so alive and so blessed to get to live in this beautiful world.

It's all the better frolicking through Cambridge in a floaty dress, the sort of dress that will be totally weather inappropriate just a few degrees (or 1 or 2 weeks) from now!

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Where to go Apple-Picking Near Boston

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I love apples! I love fun outdoor activities in fall! Add one and one together and clearly I'm a big fan of apple picking.

For the past few years, however, I've been a city girl. Getting to an apple orchard was easy in high school, when I lived in (practically) rural New Hampshire, but now farms are fewer and further in between.

But never fear! There are still many great places to go apple picking in Boston. Here are a list of the top five!

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5 Things to Know Before Moving to Cambridge

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I just moved back to Cambridge, MA and, while I already miss NYC and hope to live there again someday, there are many great things about living in Cambridge!

Cambridge is a very green city and also very close to Boston, in case you want the downtown city sort of feeling! There are many different squares in Cambridge - Harvard, Central, Kendall, and more - and each one has its own character and is complete with its own cute cafes, boutiques, and neighborhood quirks! For someone who doesn't have a car (me) it also has green public transit and lots of bike paths.

If you have decided to move to Cambridge, too, read on for five handy things to know before your move!

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The Best Acai Bowls in Boston

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I love acai bowls! They're fruity, sweet, refreshing, creamy, and have some yummy crunch from the granola.

I love the combination of different textures and flavors from the blended fruits, chopped fruits, and granola. I love that they make a perfect breakfast, snack, or light lunch. I love that they're portable and delicious and satisfying without weighing me down or making me sleepy (the opposite of what a lunch should do, especially on a work day).



NYC is an acai bowl heaven, but I've been in Boston all summer and am making the move here (or, rather, Cambridge) full time in just a few short weeks. Luckily for me, moving to Boston might mean that I give up some of my NYC favorites (at least unless I move back some day) like Juice Generation, Magic Mix Juicery, and Juice Press. But I don't have to give up acai bowls!

There are several places in Boston where you can get an acai bowl. Here are my two favorites!

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How to Survive a Cross-State Move Without Your Parents!

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The mark of adulthood is figuring out how to do more and more by yourself that you used to have your parents' help for. Most of us had parental help moving to college and many had help with their move from college to the city of their first job.

But as time passes after that first major move of complete adulthood, parental help with future moves becomes less and less likely. Your parents might leave the continent, like mine, or they might just decide that they're getting too old to play moving service for you and that you're getting old enough to learn how to do it on your own.

Moving is a useful skill to pick up, especially if you're someone who likes trying out new cities or doesn't get too attached to a specific place and prefers to follow opportunity. I'm moving back to Cambridge, MA from NYC for work and this is my first major move without any parental assistance and without the option of storing belongings at my parents' house (see above: they left the continent).

With the recurring millennial question of 'how can I do this grown up thing with minimal headache,' here are my tips for pulling off a snag-free major move by yourself!

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What to Consider For Your Apartment Search

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I feel like I am constantly moving or apartment hunting. Is it just me? I think it must be a millennial thing.

There are so many things to consider when choosing an apartment. Even if you enlist the help of a realtor, you have to make sure you're getting what you want and not what they're trying to get rid of.

As an all-too-well seasoned apartment hunter, read on for the top factors that I consider in my hunt!

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Style Post: Summer Special Occasions

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Winter is full of fun dress up events, from work holiday parties to New Year's Eve celebrations. But summer can be just as fun for those of us who love dressing up!

While summer has holiday galas, summer has weddings, baby showers, and soirees galore! I love this elegant, but summery, dress from ASOS for any of the above except weddings. 

Don't wear white to a wedding and most certainly not an all white dress! If you're not going to a wedding, however, summer is the perfect time to dress up in white. I'm not sure what it is, but I love white dresses!

I think they just feel so much lighter and floater and twirlier (we'll pretend that's a word).

Another advantage of choosing an all-white dress for your event is that you can add a pop of color with fun accessories and don't have to worry about clashing colors or having too much going on at once. Though I'm a big fan of pink, I tend to favor a pop of classic blue or red for my accessory color accent!

As is often the case, a little goes a long way. With the embellished bodice of this dress, just the blue earrings and simple eyeliner is enough to finish the look. I'm not big on going overboard with the jewelry or makeup, especially not in the summer! It just weighs your airy summer look down.

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What Being a Hobby Baker Is Like

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I love baking! Baking is so fun, makes my apartment smell cozy and inviting, and can make others happy, too. I've also had the opportunity to work with some cool companies on recipes.

But being a hobby baker has its trying moments, too, just like anything else. Here's what you don't see in the cheerful recipes and pretty food photos!

When you're asked to bake cookies for an event, but they need to be sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and whatever the other latest food trend is:

When you're elbows deep in flour and someone tries to join in on your solo baking project:

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Style Post: Vamp It Up

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Dressing up is super fun and, though I wear little to no makeup most days, doing the girl thing and wearing a complete look sometimes can be so fun!

In general in makeup, I love a bold lip and emphasized eyes, with just very light skin stuff.

I am very lucky to have clear skin, so I never really wear anything on my skin when I do my own makeup, but I also think that the eyes and mouth are two of the most interesting areas on our faces and I love to play them up when I do bother to get all dolled up!

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Style Post: Modern African

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I am half-German, half-Zimbabwean and from South Africa. Now NYC and Boston are home!

I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel around the world and experience many different cultures and ways of life. The people I have met and cultures I have experience inform my own perspectives, as well as influence how I cook, how I tell stories, and how I dress!

Style is all about self-expression and I love to mix cultures in how I dress, just as I do in almost every aspect of my life!

African patterns and cuts, like this skirt, pair organically with urban items, like this top. It's a fusion that's meant to be!

The necklace, earrings, and loafers pull the outfit together for a more chick look!

Mixing patterns, colors, and styles is such a fun way to make fashion our own. 

Especially in cities, it's becoming more and more okay to stand out.

Be individual, wear what you want, and never worry about what others might think. Life is too short to stick to wear boring clothes out of fear - and that applies to so many other things, too!

Like this look? Tweet it!

Photographer: Vania Arroyo

Stylist: Bryan Alexis

Makeup Artist: Mea Sukri

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Style Post: How to Rock Any Outfit

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Summer in Boston is absolutely beautiful! This is the second summer in a row that I've been lucky enough to have a change of pace and leave my (beloved) NYC temporarily for the quieter, quainter city of my college days. 

Boston is often cooler in the summer than NYC, but we had a heat wave recently and we Bostonians - I can call myself that for the summer - took advantage of it to break out our fun warm weather fashion! 

It's easy to pull off any look, even daring summer looks with these simple tips.

Don't forget about your face. It's part of your outfit! If you're wearing makeup, make sure that it works with your outfit! I love how the dark red lip pairs with the orange top - I wouldn't pair a pink lipstick, for example, with this look.

Don't forget about accessories! An outfit isn't fashion until you accessorize.

My personal accessories policy is that it isn't about dripping in gems or being covered in huge, bright necklaces and bracelets and countless rings. I like to pick just a few pieces, but make sure that they're pieces that I really like and that add something to the look.

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Style Post: Behind the Scenes

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Happy Memorial Day! I have some work to do today, but also lots of fun to have. Hopefully you are all busy with fun Memorial Day activities, so this is a quick post - some behind the scenes shots from a shoot last week!

Bryan Alexis brushing a bit more 'fro into my halfro. I seem to be incapable of keeping a straight face between shots, but why bother when smiling is so fun?

Malaysian makeup artist Mea Sukri touching up my makeup on location!

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The Old and The New

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Life is full of old things that appear in our lives in new ways. Sometimes we re-purpose old belongings, sometimes we re-visit old places, sometimes we try new versions of old things.

I love the old-new combination and here are some of the old-new things in my life right now!

Old jacket, new shoes -

Remember this jacket from last year? Pairing it with new pieces makes it more fun and great for late spring/early summer in Boston!

The gold sneakers give it some warm weather pizzazz.

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How To Find A Summer Sublease

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I cannot remember the last time that I have lived in the same city for a solid year. I live primarily in NYC these days, and have for almost two years now, but there's always a month here, two months there...

...you get the idea. As such, I now consider myself somewhat of an old hat at finding subleases, especially in busy cities like Boston and NYC.

The first time I looked for a sublease, no less in NYC, it felt like falling into an internet pit of inflated rents, stock photos, and poorly written descriptions.

Don't worry, it's not really so scary! I just found my summer sublease in Boston 1.5 weeks ago and I'll be moving back up for the season in just 2 weeks. Yay!

Read on for the best places to look for subleases, whether you're budget-minded or more concerned with amenities.

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Style: Florals and Fitting Out

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Fashion isn't just about clothing. I'm not an egg short of a full carton, I just mean that while clothing is, of course, part of fashion, you're not done once you've picked out the clothes for your outfit. 

In other words, clothing is necessary for great style, but not sufficient. Accessories finish a look

Accessories are all too often overlooked because, unlike pants, no one is going to raise an eyebrow if you forget them. You'll feel under-dressed if you forget to put on a shirt one day, but the same usually doesn't apply for a bracelet.

But, like lingerie, your accessories can change how you feel in your outfit and throughout your day. 

It's great when other people appreciate our style, but most important is that we appreciate our own style and that it makes us feel good and comfortable in our own skin.

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Style Post: Springing Towards Summer

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The temperatures are warming up and our wardrobes are switching from wintertime drab to springy fun! I love dresses and I love feeling free and light, with swishy skirts for twirling and bare arms for cartwheeling.

I'm spending this summer in Boston and I can't wait! I had a trip out to Boston a week ago for a fun shoot and we stumbled upon this fun hot pink scaffolding in Chinatown. It was the cutest scaffolding I've ever seen in my life and paired wonderfully with this gingham and daisy dress from ASOS!

With a bright, happy welcome like that, I can't wait to return to Boston in just a few short weeks and make it, once again, my warm weather home!

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