// WOKE UP IN NEW YORK CITY

// Coffee talk 

good morning :) just landed in new york city, and feeling a little more alive than when I left. always happens when I go home for the weekend. i did nothing this weekend but drink tim hortons coffee, go to niagara falls for a birthday [and lost money on roulette], watch parts 1 & 2 of twilight at Tina's home, and go to Stouffville for a beautiful bride to be. So ya - pretty much did nothing. It's Monday :) Hope it's a good one. x -C

// STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM

// TGIF

OK first of all, that photo is so old it looks vintage. It's crazy to think that in just less than five months Candice Kaye Design has launched three collections.  It's even crazier to think that I haven't made a video let alone take video footage like this in the last five months. Like who am I? I used to be selfie taker-video making- always having fun- never take things too seriously-Candice, and lately I've become over worked-over thinking Candice and well, that's super boring. It's easy in New York City to sort of get caught up in it all. And when I say get "caught up in it all", I mean you turn into that person that takes three hours to take a photo of your work space just so you can take a photo that looks identical to another designer's instagram.  So, today I'm shaking it off. I'm about to take another huge leap of faith into the world of unknown. A leap that has been the hardest to wrap my head around. But it's time, now or never. It's safe to say I've been living off tarot cards and horoscopes lately. I'm taking this Friday afternoon to reflect back. Gotta get that Candice back who was ball-sy enough to wear that outfit in public.

 Flying home this weekend for some family, girlfriend's bridal shower love, so I shall talk to you Monday. Happy Friday x -C

// FRAMES ARE COMIN'

// Location: New Apartment 

So I moved. In like July. I know, I never mentioned it - it's been a pretty crazy three months. I'm now midtown east, quite a different vibe than cute and trendy Greenwich Village, but it was time for a change. I finally can sleep-in until 10 am waltz over to my couch turn on my T.V and sit for another couple hours without feeling guilty. The quiet was what I needed. My old apartment always had so much New York fun happening outside, I got serious FOMO. Anyways, I've lived in this new apartment for 3 months now and there is nothing on the walls. I know, terrible. Good news is I've started framing my artwork from Collection N Eleven . Which will also be available online HERE soon! I'm working with a beautiful framing company to give you gallery quality frames, along with some hand painted custom prints for those who want something completely their own. Very excited about this. 

 

 

// WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS

// Location: Bryant Park 

This past Saturday night was spent at Bryant Park sitting on a blanket and sipping on a bottle of prosecco. Not alone. Promise, Dan was with me. Anyway, my mind was doing that usual thing it does - run 1 million miles per minute. It was thinking about present, past, future, things I want to do, things I don't have time to do, I think at one point it even went as far back as last year. I do this to myself often - especially lately - put myself down for things I haven't done yet. So today I thought I would write something positive. About stuff I have done that have been pretty f***kin cool. Like being able to sit in a field of grass with beautiful trees around me in the middle of a bunch of huge ass buildings. Or moving to New York - a place I never thought I'd be [never mind three years later] taking chances on myself and pushing towards my dream. Pretty f***kin cool. So is that $14.00 tank that I found in a surf shop on the Jersey Shore. I wore it almost everyday this summer :) 

New Horoscopes are up peeps. It's Wednesday, duh. 

 

// SARATOGA

// Saratoga race track 

I finally got around to editing these photos from Saratoga. I forgot how beautiful this weekend was. I took my camera out only on the first day of the weekend. Carrying around something heavy for the big Travers race [Saratoga's big race of the year] starring the American Pharoah was something I didn't want to deal with. The day of Travers race did have the best street style though so I sort of screwed up. You should have seen some of the hats. One lady literally wore a hat made out of big bows. The ugliest thing I have ever seen. There were people of all kinds at the track. Classiest of the classiest, trashy trying to be classy, hardcore gamblers, and then families scattered in between. The races go all day. I believe they started at around 11 am and ended the last race at around 6 pm. The day sort of reminded me of fashion week, minus all the running around from location to location. The races literally last like 5-6 minutes. For five minutes everyone stops to either watch the TV's in front of them or lock their eyes on the track. Then for the last sayy 5 seconds everyone just starts screaming [by screaming I mean yelling]. It's all very exciting. After the race is done, there's a half hour gap to refill your drinks and place your bets. I'm pretty much hooked. It will be my goal next year to get the ladies down for the weekend. Big hats, cute outfits, champagne and $12 bets. Yes please. 

// WALL ART

// New things are coming!

Hello! Happy TGIF. This weekend looks like it's going to be a very pretty one [hands up]. I'm hoping I can get Dan and Ashley [who is here from London for NYFW] in a Kayak on the Hudson river tomorrow. It's been on my to-do since I moved here [you can follow along on my snap ckdesign to see it all go down]. Anyway I've been getting loads of requests for framed hand painted artwork so I thought why not. The pieces will be a good way for me to try something different than the collections, who knows perhaps I'll throw some texture pieces in there. Ohhh my living room is going to look glorious once I start getting my hands in paint :) Everything should be ready for November, just in time for the holidays. Stay tuned! x -C 

[this peony was painted for Preserve's feature for Mothers Day - you can read the full story here!]

// GETTING HEALTHY

// Location: Farmers market 

I've always envied people who would grow fruits and vegetables in their backyards or go out of their way to farmers markets to get the best of the best quality. I've never really been a lady of the kitchen, but lately things have changed. I revamped my eating habits, and started to get my hands dirty... in oven mitts. It's only really been a week since I've started to really focus on what I've been eating, but it's been working. I definitely feel a difference [I've even lowered my coffee intake to one coffee a day. I know]. My next challenge will be protein shakes to be enjoyed before the day starts. Anyone have any really good recipes?? 

Happy Thursday guys. x -C