11 Offline Things I Did This Month

Homemade chocolate chip cookies, film cameras, and so much beauty my heart could burst

Good morning everyone, and happy June. It’s officially summer, with its chirping birds (some of whom are downright aggressive, as you’ll read below), lush green streets, blooming rhododendrons, and sticky nights. We made it through the long New York winter, and the long days of summer are finally here.

When I sit on my stoop with Samson in the evening and watch the world go by, I can feel the stone still warm from the day’s sun. That’s how you know it’s summer in NYC. Well, that, and my Van Leeuwen pint melting on the bike ride home from the store, the annual rise in mufflers loud enough to rattle your teeth, walking out of a movie at 8:30 p.m. and noticing it’s still light out, and all the fresh New England produce showing up at the Co-op.

If you’re new here, welcome. Every month, I share a list of offline things I did — moments that grounded me, made me laugh, brought me back to myself, or just reminded me that life exists outside the screen. As a recovering postaholic/ambition chaser, it’s a practice I started to gently resist the constant pull to be on. I hope you enjoy, and if you do, please “heart” this so it can be more easily found by others, or forward it to a friend.

11 Offline Things I Did This Month

1. Bought a film camera inspired by

   Sara Covey
   , a film guru and creator I found on here. I ended up going with a second-hand Canon AE-1 + 50 mm f/1.8 lens, and I can’t wait for it to arrive (tomorrow!). My mother has always been into photography and let me play around with her vintage film camera in college, and I loved the whole process. We’ve since misplaced the camera, so I’m excited to get my very own. I love the slowness, the surprise, the imperfection of it all. There’s so much happening in my life right now, and I want to capture all of these special moments. I’m traveling to an island off the coast of Spain this summer with my person, and you can bet I’ll be bringing the camera with me. (Wait, am I tripping, or isn’t it hard to fly with film? Don’t X-ray machines mess it up?! Please advise)

2. Got a facial at the one and only 23-year-old Christine Chin Spa. Christine Chin, aka “Mean Christine,” is known for her no-frills, no-fluff, downright transformative facials that focus on detail and customization. No rushing in and out, no express facials, no VC money. It’s the only place that:

   1. doesn’t upcharge for extractions

   2. treats every face/skin type with care, detail, and love!

   3. doesn’t push products, but instead asks about your entire skincare routine and offers thoughtful tips, habits, and ideas tailored to your skin

   4. includes a 40–50 minute facial massage as part of the facial

   The whole process takes about 2–3 hours (I got the glow facial with microdermabrasion), and within three days, my skin was insane. Such a special treat!

   

3. Baked homemade cookies for my boyfriend’s family. I don’t know how to express this lightly, but I’ve met the love of my life, and my entire life has changed because of it. I found the love I’ve been searching for since I was a little girl. Unexpectedly, peacefully, powerfully, and forever. And I made Daphne Oz’s famous chocolate chip cookies while visiting his family. My sis and I swear by this recipe, it tastes like homemade baked cookies are supposed to taste. Think organic Toll House: thick and chewy in the middle, with crispy, browned butter edges and the ideal chocolate-to-dough ratio. If you are trying to impress, bake these cookies.

   

4. Spent time by the ocean with my person. Walking in nature, visiting old bookstores, having coffee in bed, waking up to the sound of the waves crashing outside, spending time with our families. I am so lucky.

   

5. Met my new nephew, 9 days old. My sister had her 3rd child, Cole, at the end of May. Words can’t describe holding delicate new life in your arms:

   

   Welcome, baby Cole

6. Made my favorite gnocchi dish that takes 25 minutes but feels like you're eating at the ultimate NYC Italian Restaurant. It’s my ultimate weeknight meal: Crispy Gnocchi with Burst Tomatoes and Mozzarella. If you know me, you know I wholeheartedly believe in a yearly subscription to the NYT Cooking app. Get on it, if not for this recipe alone.

   

   Before and after, Crispy Gnocchi

7. Clocked the window boxes. With the warmer weather comes the Brooklyn window boxes: elaborate, overflowing, and meant for beauty and beauty only. No function, no utility. Just flowers for the sake of flowers. Sometimes they feel like the last pure form of beauty. And in a city this crowded and chaotic, it feels like a miracle that they’re still standing, untouched and untrashed. I always stop for a good window box. Beauty is priceless.

   

   

   Taking in the local window boxes

8. Had a museum day with mom. Growing up, both my grandmothers, Tilly and Ros, and my mother made it a point to take my sister and me to the Met almost monthly. They believed in the power, function, and purpose of art, and passed down a deep appreciation for “museum days” to us as little girls.

   As an adult, I still crave these excursions. Once or twice a year, my mom takes the short train ride into the city (I know how lucky I am), and it’s just us girls — we’ll usually hit an exhibit or two in the morning before the crowds, then grab lunch somewhere nearby. Our conversations meander from what’s currently happening in our lives to the context and topic of the exhibit we are viewing. We discuss history, family, culture and art. It’s simple, slow, and full of love.

   

   35 🤝 65 mother/daughter art day!

9. Got attacked by a mockingbird. The craziest thing happened to me on a walk this week. As I entered an open field with Samson at my local Brooklyn park, I noticed a bird darting around aggressively, swooping toward us with serious attitude. Not thinking much of it, I kept walking in that direction and suddenly felt something crash into my back. I took off my headphones, disoriented, convinced it had to be a frisbee or something. But then I looked up and saw the bird still circling above us, divebombing again, this time at Samson, who bolted out of the way with his tail between his legs. Clearly, neither of us is used to getting attacked by birds. I watched more closely and realized the bird was squawking loudly, keeping its eyes on us, clearly protecting something nearby. After a little research, I found out it was a mockingbird, likely a male guarding his nest. My God. We love a protective daddy. I will absolutely be staying out of that area for the foreseeable future. This daddy bird had no fear.

   

   The meanest bird in Brooklyn

10. Had a thought on a walk that I just had to share. We spend our lives accumulating: clothes, things, furniture, photos, debt. But we all exit the earth the same way. You know the saying, “When you leave the planet, you don’t take anything with you”? It’s true. You don’t take anything with you. Just look at estate sales! (laughs out loud)

11. Stuffed dates for dessert. Recipe: pit a medjool date. Add nut butter of choice. Drizzle with maple syrup. Sprinkle with sea salt. Share with your person or enjoy alone. XOXO

Thanks for reading, everyone. Please “heart” this post and share with a friend if you enjoyed it. I’ll see you soon for the next rendition of Offline Time <3