Cobwebs Gifts & Antiques Photoshoot

When you think back on all the jobs you've ever had, and choose one that was your favorite, what comes to mind? It may not be the role that you job searched for the most, or the one you've had the longest, or even the one that paid the most. But it definitely was the one that made you the most joyful. Maybe even helped mold you towards a new career path you never saw coming for yourself.

One that came to you unexpectedly.

That for me was working my summers at Cobwebs Gifts & Antiques from 2010-2012. The most picturesque little gift shop just down the beach in Bay Head, NJ. Cobwebs had been in that location for over 11 years, owned by the kindest woman named Sandy, who also has the most amazing sense of humor. To this day I say she was my favorite boss, but ultimately I consider her a wonderful friend. 

You have to imagine, this little cottage by the shore, painted red shingles (later painted beige, sadly) and large glass windows, sunlight pouring onto this place. On our front lawn you would pass pinwheels, flower pots, vintage beach signs, delicate wind chimes, and usually step over trails of sand that would come off the flip flops of beach-goer guests. Entering you smell a seagrass candle, you can still hear the ocean waves and feel a slight breeze. (We liked to keep the door open as much as the summer heat would let us). If we had music on, it was usually Jimmy Buffet or Dave Matthews. This place was filled the brim, from the floor to the walls to the ceiling, with the most beautiful and unique pieces of handmade jewelry, local art, antiques, furniture, boatwood frames, home decor... hence the name "Cobwebs". 

(Apologies for the low quality photos below, at the time I was very new to Instagram. Had to dig up these gems.)

I worked at Cobwebs until about a week before my wedding in August 2012. After the wedding my husband Soren and I moved to New York City, so I had to leave my favorite little shop. 

 

A few short months after, I learned some devastating news. 

Our beloved Cobwebs was destroyed during the shore hit from Hurricane Sandy.  

 

That entire street was flooded for days, so much of Sandy's inventory was lost, and it was difficult for her to gain enough access the building to salvage the rest. And we were also kind of old school, (used hand written receipts), so all our ledgers and paperwork were lost.

Below you can see Cobwebs in the aftermath, building on the far right. The white signage still out front. 

hurricansandybayhead

 

To keep her business alive, Sandy had moved into shop spaces in Point Pleasant Beach. They were smaller, sometimes shared spaces with other boutiques, so it was just not the same as where we once were. Sandy was a true local in the Bay Head area, everyone knew her shop there, so rebuilding 11 years of establishment wasn't going to come back easily.

 

But she never gave up.

 

Now almost 5 years later, Sandy has gotten a new fresh space, all her own, down the main shopping street in Point Pleasant. She has already put her amazing creative touch in this place, and bringing back to life all the beautiful pieces that had been salvaged and in storage (due to space constraints in previous spaces). 

 

I remember joking with Sandy the summer before my wedding, that even though I was moving to New York, she wouldn't be able to get rid of me. 

So here I am, back again.

 

So excited to hear the news that Cobwebs was officially re-opened, I wanted to help get the word out in anyway I could. With my new venture into developing my photography skills and creating a business, I offered to come down the shore and do some interior and product photography for Sandy, create photos she could use for her new marketing. I have never done much product photography before, but being inspired by local boutiques in my area, and knowing how much a well-curated social media post could draw in business, I wanted to give it a try. I'm so happy she let me. 

Below I have posted several of my favorites, but be sure to check out and follow Cobwebs Gifts & Antiques Facebook page for weekly updates from Sandy! And if you are ever in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, be sure to check out this lovely shop filled with treasures. 

 

If you are a NJ/NYC boutique, small-run, or self-owned business, and would like to have some fresh marketing and product photography of your own at an extremely reasonable rate, please send me a message inquiry here. It would be my pleasure to work alongside you in promoting your business!!! :) 

 

The Fearless Girl

March 8th, 2017 was International Women's Day and coincidentally the bull market in stock's 8th birthday, and the “Fearless Girl”, created by artist Kristen Visbal, was installed overnight Tuesday in the Financial District on Wall Street. This is a statue of a little girl, with hands on her hips, staring down and standing up to the iconic bronze “Charging Bull”. This installment quickly went viral across social media, making national and international headlines, and that morning I decided I had to go see her.

It was a very empowering experience visiting the Fearless Girl yesterday, living so close to Wall Street I knew this was something I wasn't even allowed to miss. The crowds surrounded the statue, so it was difficult to get the kind of photo I wanted of the Fearless Girl, so I decided to focus on the crowds. People were excited, everyone wanted a photo with her, families were bringing their young daughters and sons to this iconic moment, there was a contagious buzz on the street and everyone walking by wanted to know what was happening. At times I would cross the street to get a better view of the crowds eagerly approaching the Fearless Girl, and I got stopped and asked by several tourists if it were a celebrity or film considering the energy all around. 

"Perhaps the turning point of gender equality in corporate America will come down to this simple but powerful act of commissioning a piece of art."

What this Fearless Girl stands for is the importance of women in corporate leadership roles, and is putting gender diversity issues front and center. The “Fearless Girl” is just 50 inches tall, compared to the hulking “Charging Bull,” but the plaque at her feet suggests size doesn’t matter: ‘‘Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference.’’

It was transparent to see that the women visiting the statue yesterday were encouraged, their daughters were encouraged, their faces lighted up as they went to pose with Fearless Girl. An image in my mind I won't forget was several young girls just getting out of school, with backpacks still on, ran eagerly to get up and close to her, wrapped their arms around the statue, and declared how brave they all were. 

 

I am sure a similar feeling also resonated through America for those who saw the images and heard the story on social media. But this statue represents more than just a feeling, but the beginning of action in a conversation that has gone on for too long within four walls of a board room, and seen little change. 

While this statue of a young girl in a simple dress with high tops on and a ponytail may be a familiar image that relates to all of us in some way, where she stands is undoubtedly one of the most iconic places on Wall Street. And for this she is fierce, she is bold, she is brave, and not to be underestimated. 

 

"Fearless Girl" has a permit from the city for the statue to be there a week. The company is seeking an extension for another month, but fans have already launched a Change.org petition to make it a permanent fixture.

 

 

 

 

 

A Post-Holiday Reflection

Do you ever get that feeling that you just don't know quite what to do with yourself once the holidays are over? The trees and lights are coming down, vacation is over, family and friends have gone back to their routine work schedules, Christmas shows and themed festive cocktails at the bars have all ended, but its still miserably cold out and we've all got awhile to go till spring. I guess I am in denial, as I am continuously finding excuses to get groups of friends together to continue the feeling of celebrations (lucky for me my birthday is also in January as a pick-me-up). Last weekend my husband even convinced me and several close friends to spontaneously (like 24-hour notice trip) go skiing and riding in Vermont for 2 days. (But we are not on vacation from work...) We also still have our Christmas tree and decorations up in our apartment, despite them being taken down all around town (our excuse in that they take up less room out decorated than they do stored in our 1-bedroom apartment closets). Yup, I guess you can say I haven't quite accepted the winter blues just yet.

 

But as I am spending more and more time with my Nikon, I have been able to find myself slowing down a bit. And figuring out that that's okay. Catching the quiet post-holiday moments around town, and finding out that the hustle and bustle excitement is still there, just looks a little different now. There are still locals and tourists alike walking along the esplanade, couples sitting along the benches together, die-hard runners and bikers doing their thing, people are still outside embracing the city in January. Sure, I am going to miss the lights and the music and the celebrations, but in New York City there is still so much to immerse yourself in. I wasn't sure how my full time photography journey would start out beginning in the middle of January, no flowers blooming, days are shorter, challenging myself daily for new content in harsher weather. However, I am finding that although there are obstacles, there are still moments in my neighborhood worth capturing, and that has given me a new appreciation and thankfulness for this time of year.

 

The other day I was walking around downtown Battery Park, and noticed a lot of the park staff handling abandoned Christmas trees from all the apartments, shoving them into their trucks, and driving them to a wood chopper. What a sad vision to see, what was once someone's, (was once a child's!), joyous Christmas tree is now a forgotten plant to get hacked away at. But as I kept walking through the park, I stumbled across this happy little mulch pile with a sign on it. The sign read, "Battery Park City Parks: Your Christmas Trees make beautiful mulch. Thank you." Ahhh, now that just made me feel so much better, to see our local Christmas trees being used to beautify our own big backyard!

 

I am learning to appreciate this post-holiday "what do I do with myself" January as a time to be challenged with my photography, teach myself some new techniques, sow some new seeds in that "Christmas tree mulch". Excited to see what will grow out of this quiet, still season. And as much as I look forward to warm springtime sunshine, I know that each day between now and then is just as carefully and beautifully woven together with a purpose. 

 

 

 

what are you doing new year's eve?

No, I have never gone to Times Square for New Year Eve. In fact, Soren and I have a tradition for staying as far away as possible from the midtown craziness. We enjoy a celebration just as much as the next person, but hanging out in the cold with no champagne does not sound like a fun time to me. Since we have moved to New York City, we somehow even find ourselves nowhere near a television set to watch the ball drop, which may seem like the most anti-New York thing, but hear me out.

New Years Eve is really one of my favorite nights out of the entire year. No matter whats going on in your life, what your background is, where you are from, its the one night where every is out to celebrate a new beginning or fresh start one way or another. I love the way you feel when you begin to countdown into the new year, joyously toasting with loved ones and also complete strangers.

 

This year for New Years, we decided to head to one of our new favorite bars that is just a short walk from our apartment. It was just the two of us, as other plans had fallen through with friends, but hey we still knew how to have a memorable evening. Blacktail had just opened up in the Pier A building in Battery Park City this past summer, same owners as world-famous Dead Rabbit bar in Financial District. Blacktail is inspired by the period when Americans were taking trips down to Old Havana, Cuba in order to quench their thirst during the American Prohibition, and some even left those cold shores of NYC in the exact spot of today's Pier A. If you are in the area and haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend a visit. That New Years Eve we especially felt transported by the live 1920s Jazz band, Cuban Art Deco furnishings, and complimentary welcome daiquiri and champagne. The service is warm and friendly, and always makes us feel like we are more than just dining guests.

We didn't have to fight through the tourist crowds, freeze outside in the cold, pay an arm and a leg to get into a club, or watch Ryan Seacrest in shock after Mariah Carey's New Year's Eve performance. So I'd say it was a pretty spectacular night, we were in the perfect place at the perfect time to celebrate 2017 together. New York is such a vibrant blend of cultures, and so those things that may seem anti-New York to visitors, really isn't at all. Immerse yourself in a new experience and check out the local happenings, you never know which part of New York City history you may unlock. 

 

A NEW ADVENTURE

As a young child, I never really envisioned what my life would look like after my high school or college years. Maybe I would stay in my hometown, maybe I would travel the world, who really knew where I would be. Although, my passions in life were quite clear at a young age. The arts, music, design, reaching out to those in need. I enjoyed comfortable, I knew what I was good at and stayed in that range, but every once in awhile an unshakable entrepreneurial spirit struck.

Can I teach myself this? How can I create this? Will others understand and learn from this?

I wanted everything I did to have a clear direct purpose. Unfortunately, if I didn't see immediate results, I would give up. Move on to the next "calling". 

As I got older, I realized you may not always understand the reasoning behind what life brings you. And that the journey to get to your dreams may not be how you imagined. But if you have a little patience (or a lot in my case), you will see His plans are always beautiful and fulfilling. If you told me 10 years ago that I would meet my soulmate freshman year of college, get married at barely 22, move to New York City and begin our lives together there, I wouldn't of believed you. And that's of course exactly what happened. 

 

22 year old me had some big adventures ahead.

 

And there were still a lot of unknowns. I grew up in a small town on the Jersey Shore, what did I know about living in an urban jungle? Having a 600 square foot apartment uptown and commuting downtown via subway? Beginning a marriage in a completely new lifestyle? 

But we dove right in, head first. Married, honeymooned, moved in, began new career, and started law school all within a two weeks time. And our leap of faith has led us to loving every minute of our city life for the last four years. 

 

I'd love to share a snapshot of my little family for you. 

My husband Soren and I met freshman year of college out in western Pennsylvania and got engaged our senior year. He's my best friend, my soulmate, my dance partner for life (we did meet at an on-campus Swing Dance Club). He attended Columbia Law School when we began our lives in NYC, and am so proud of all he has accomplished during his time there and now he is a 2nd year corporate attorney at a Big Law firm in Midtown East. If you need a restaurant recommendation, he's the guy to ask. He loves all things soccer, golf, wine, and travel. He is also my favorite sous chef for our dinner parties and date nights in. 

A month after moving into the city Hurricane Sandy hit, but we were able to save and adopt a precious kitten named Purrie a week before the storm. (We thankfully lived far enough uptown that our power remained on). She came with the name Purrie from the shelter, because she apparently purred a lot. Thinking that name was absolutely ridiculous we did everything in our power to try to change it (Mr. Whiskers?! Little Bear?! Fluffy?!), but found that Purrie just stuck. She's quite the cuddlebug and does indeed purr a lot. 

 

I am so excited to begin this photography blog to be able to share what I have learned, grown from, and enjoyed in this diverse and vibrant city, as a Christian wife, fashion retail manager, wino and foodie, lover of interior design, amateur photographer, and as someone who has found the calm in a neighborhood of 8 million people. My hope is that I can share with others the beauty in everyday, joys of family life, encouragement through faith, and inspiration through my stories and photography. Whether you are making the plunge into city life yourself, or simply curious how people do it (and still decide to stay), I am grateful for you taking a moment to read through my perspective and experiences.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. 

26 year old me still has some big adventures ahead.