Rhymes with Fabulous

August 15, 2015

On Growing Up

Given that I’m starting my third decade on the planet, I dedicate a fair amount of time to thoughts on growing up. This week was a real milestone. Why, you ask? Because this week I decided I’m too old for my hostel. I’m 32 and sitting in the communal room at Lake Lodge in Istelwald, Switzerland. The conversations in the room include: First, a girl and her Korean roommate talking about a tv show called New Girl. Also, about how many cities in Italy it is possible to visit in 5 days (it sounds like 6? Which seems high.) Additionally, apparently traveling in the summer is more expensive than…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 11, 2015

Don’t worry about the jetlag

I woke up about 7 hours early for my alarm this morning. (This happens with international teachers. Read more here.) Since I had nothing more important to do than make it to the airport on time for a flight to Zurich, I decided to indulge in it. ‘Don’t worry about the jetlag and let it cure itself’. Of course, it’s not my go-to strategy for work days, but in the summer it works just fine. It’s interesting the places your mind will go with hours to think uninterrupted (or at least only moderately interrupted, by binge reading Amazon Unlimited best sellers such as “Maximum Insecurity: A Doctor in the supermax”….

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 4, 2015

Be Happy Right Where You Are

I think the hardest thing is to be happy right where you are. There is something about the American South that always highlights this concept for me. Human nature slows south of the Mason Dixon line. Communities thrive on small beauties, warm normalcy and delivered satisfaction. I thrive on hurried, fretful decisions, screaming adversity to normalcy and a constant search for deeper meaning. It’s important for me to come South and Slow Down. It’s here that I learn the most important lessons of how to be happy right where you are. I’m writing from Oklahoma City. The business district lays on flat, functional ground. The hotel manager called…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 3, 2015

Vacation, Pray, Love

There is an order to the summer and it goes: vacation, pray, love. As one does on vacation, I have been amusing myself all summer with thoughts of what I would do if I quit my job and was able to focus on what I really wanted. Normal jobs only give a few weeks to consider the topic, I have been turning it over in my head for almost 2 months. Yesterday my thoughts turned to Elizabeth Gilbert and her darling 2002-ish plea to ‘Eat, Pray, Love‘: I think it is phenomenal she distilled what she wanted into 3 simple words. What would my words be?! Vacation, Pray, Love…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

August 2, 2015

Soul Cycle Zen

Like many modern city girls, I depend on Soul Cycle classes for wise sentiments and Zen-like peacefulness. For those of you not familiar with Soul Cycle, I will outline the explanation I gave my boyfriend the other night: “They are these absurdly expensive spinning classes, but it’s more than just spinning class-they are a lifestyle brand. It’s like Anthropology but for exercise. It’s sort of like belonging to a cult.” I paused in my explanation and realized-it’s actually exactly like belonging to a cult! Entranced in my newfound sense of community, I considered the similarities: First, I happily give them all my money. Second, I believe everything…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 31, 2015

Hello from New York!

Now that I have successfully redecorated my bookshelves in my current home, I am thrilled to be writing from my forever home, New York City. Details on my flight below. The flight from Madrid Barajas to New York John F Kennedy takes approximately 7 hours (longer on the way back going against the wind). I have broken the experience into time intervals for easier reporting. Minutes -30 to 125 Minute -30: Spanish nationals start lining up for the plane. Spanish people simply adore standing in line–it’s very puzzling. Minutes 0-45: Board and promptly fall asleep. All going well according to ‘napping and reading’ flight plan. Minute 46: Helpful…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

July 29, 2015

Feeling at Home

Today I bought $75 worth of silver-plated picture frames from Zara Home. In the category of “picture frames” I also include whimsical candle holders and decorative boxes. I’m nesting. This is not a skill that comes naturally. For 5 years, the sum total of my furniture consisted of 2 beat-up, army-green ammo boxes. My last coffee table in California was made out of a cut-up 2×4 and 8 nails. I once lived in a high-rise on 67th Street for a month and didn’t bother to buy any pillows. I don’t mean “picture-frame-decorative-pillows”. I mean “the-pillows-you-put-on-the-bed-pillows”. In my defense, I often live in mostly-furnished places. Also, I move a lot. Also,…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

July 28, 2015

Like a Painting

If you are trying to escape the desperate heat of Madrid in the summer, I suggest the ‘Like a Painting’ exhibit at the Thyssen. Museo Thyssen opened up its exposition space to Vogue Magazine. Vogue shuttled in a number of fashion photographs from its archives inspired by art. The idea is old as time. After all, fashion is art. Just ask Coco Chanel or Oscar Wilde. In fact, ever since the Met opened the Costume Institute, it seems museums everywhere have been overrun with fashion interpretation. It doesn’t make it any less fun! In the continued trend of ‘Fashion at the Museum’, Vogue magazine opened it’s archives for the privately-owned…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in Uncategorized

July 27, 2015

Monday Facts

Below please find a list of Monday facts I made up that make me feel better about my life. Have a nice day! Monday Facts 1) The movie “Heathers” is a loose interpretation of Shakespeare’s “Othello”. Think about it. 2) The Obamas own matching pajamas. Including the dog. They wear them on Sunday mornings for “Obamas in Pajamas” quality time. 3) Harvard Business School curriculum includes a class called “Fanny Facebook: The Role of Gender in Social Media Marketing” 4) The cast of “California Dreams” is staging a musical reunion tour, set to premier in Paris on New Years Eve 2015 5) Katy Perry owns a unicorn named “Fluffy…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in monday-friday fabulous, randomly fabulous

July 26, 2015

How to Make Vacation Longer

Sometimes, the secret of how to make vacation longer is all about your mindset. For example, I have been back from my latest trip for approximately 36 hours. I have already: Gone out to an amazing dinner with my boyfriend, read a book, ran 4..ish… miles in Retiro Park, written a blog post, caught up on my e-mail and started harassing my friends about our NEXT destination. At around 7 PM I realized-I needed to get my head back in vacation mode. I immediately booked an appointment at the Hammam Arab Baths. By 8 PM I was floating blissfully in a pool of hot water, debating the merits of…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

On Growing Up

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Don’t worry about the jetlag

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Be Happy Right Where You Are

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Vacation, Pray, Love

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Soul Cycle Zen

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Hello from New York!

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Feeling at Home

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Like a Painting

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Monday Facts

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How to Make Vacation Longer

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