Lately on Instagram: 8/30/15

August 30, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 2 Comments

These posts were getting a little tedious to write every week, especially those weeks I don’t post as much on Instagram. Instead of scrambling every Sunday, I’m going to be posting whenever there’s enough content – probably closer to every two weeks – and supplementing with more Currently and Day in the Life posts. Sound good? That’s a real question – let me know what you think!

Last week I was invited to an event in midtown where I didn’t know anyone. I’m a big advocate for saying yes to things, and it’s rare for me to be outside my comfort zone since I developed a close group of friends here in NYC. So I went, stayed about 30 minutes, and ducked out fashionably early (that’s a thing, right?) Luckily I was just a few blocks from my favorite part of the city – Rockefeller Plaza – so I wandered over to see it all lit up, read a book, and laugh at the fact that someone at the event called me brave. Would you ever have thought?!

After over a year, I still can’t get over Bryant Park. It’s the most random park filled with suits and squeezed between skyscrapers just a few blocks from Times Square – yet it always feels like the most peaceful oasis.

My church hosts quarterly gatherings for the whole team, and they’re always catered. Usually it’s mediocre Italian food but last week we had a taco truck! If you’ve read anything on this site at all, you probably know that tacos are one of my love languages. I made sure Emmie, Kelli and I got there 30 minutes early and didn’t even complain about sitting on the sidewalk. Because tacos!

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Brunch is forever my favorite meal, and one I indulged in twice this week – at Petite Abeille in Flatiron and at Colina Cuervo in Crown Heights. I’m partial to sweet, high-carb treats, as you can probably tell!

Yesterday was a quintessential New York summer day, and it bums me out to think that summer is coming to a close. There was a rooftop barbecue in Hell’s Kitchen, followed by a spontaneous trip uptown (181st Street!) to see my friend Kelli’s place in Washington Heights. A solid hour away from my neighborhood in Brooklyn, it was like going on vacation – without even leaving New York City!

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One year of A Genuine Delight

August 27, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 5 Comments

I spend a lot of time thinking about how lucky I am.

Many people in New York don’t like to be told that they’re lucky. They emphasize their hard work and the struggles that they face in between the rooftop cocktails and the Thai food that’s delivered to their apartments whenever they want it, even (especially) at 3 a.m. And while it’s true that I spend a lot of late nights with my laptop, that I occasionally spend $20 on a drink, that I spend more time than most staging photos to get just the right angles and lighting – I really am lucky. I’m lucky to get to do such cool, such delightful, things as part of my every day life, things like set sail at sunset after a long day at work. I’m lucky that I don’t need to have a car, that the train goes (pretty much) anywhere I want to, any time of day. But in particular, I’m lucky that I recognize these blessings and get to soak them in.

A year ago today, my very first post went live and A Genuine Delight was born. Part of me is surprised that it’s still alive and flourishing – after all, I’m the girl with commitment issues, and it’s rare I do anything for a year straight with only myself to report to. But the photos are still being taken, the posts are still being written and I even have a fancy little content calendar. I started writing, honestly, under pressure from others – but I’ve kept it up for myself. It’s turned into a creative outlet, a project for me to focus on outside of my day job. It’s led to new friendships and to my learning fun new skills like video-making. It’s turned into something that I’m really quite proud of.

When I started blogging, I didn’t think about how it would change my daily perspective. I chose to write about the things that delight me because it’s broad, all-encompassing – this site can change with me. But I also chose it because I saw delight all around me, in the bright lights here at home and at the end of every car and plane journey I took elsewhere. But now, because so much of my life is focused on documenting the delightful, I see it even in the mundane. It’s in the crowded morning commute, which I can spend with my nose in a book. It’s in every astronomical rent check I write, which pays for a home that is more of a haven. It’s in the long, drawn-out work days, which always come to an end and often with friends.

Thanks for coming along for the journey. If not for all of you out there reading each post, this website would be meaningless. Rest assured that there is so much yet to come.

P.S. You’ll notice I bought my site a little birthday present – its own domain! Your bookmarks should redirect, but please let me know if there are issues. From here on out, you can find me at agenuinedelight.com!

The Getty Museum

August 25, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 6 Comments

In all my trips to Los Angeles, the J. Paul Getty Museum never even crossed my radar. This time around, we only really ventured out there because it was a good middway point between Kathleen’s neighborhood, and where my aunt and uncle live. So we drove out to Brentwood on a Saturday, and can I just say – I was blown away. The architecture, the gardens, the views – I could have an entire day of fun here without even setting foot in the museum itself. The best part is that it’s free, aside from the $15 parking fee – completely worth it, especially if you carpool!

The architecture couldn’t have been more stunning on a sunny summer day.

The garden isn’t at its best this year, thanks to the infamous California drought, but I was impressed even by its design. I can’t wait to go back in the future to see it fully in bloom!

The sweeping views of Los Angeles rival those at the Griffith Observatory (which I visited back in my pre-blogging days). It was a little smoggy so we couldn’t see out to the ocean, but it was still great to look out.

As for the museum itself, we saw some pretty cool exhibits, including some ancient bedding that child Leigh Anne would have loved. For the most part, though, the best parts of the Getty were outside.

Special thanks to this guy and his wife for always making time for their nieces.

And thank YOU, Los Angeles, for yet another incredible visit. I assure you, I’ll always be back.

Santa Monica

August 21, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 3 Comments

My favorite neighborhood in Los Angeles, and the one I know best (unless Disneyland counts as a neighborhood) is Santa Monica. My friend Kathleen lives not far, in West LA, and I tend to spend my vacations as close to the beach as possible. This most recent trip West was no exception. Santa Monica can be a little gimmicky – the boardwalk, the promenade – but it’s popular amongst tourists for a reason.

Views from the promenade. In the third photo you can see out to Malibu!

The famous pier at sunset during a summer concert series.

Saint Monica’s church – I’ve attended services here twice now!

Do you ever find yourself visiting the same touristy spots again and again?

My new favorite thing in LA: The Venice Canals

August 19, 2015Leigh Anne Zinsmeister 1 Comment

When I booked my flight to Los Angeles earlier this summer, I honestly figured Kathleen and I would enjoy a quiet week revolving around brunch and beaches. I’ve spent a lot of time in LA over the years and this trip was to be way less about sightseeing and way more about quality friend time after two years apart.

With that said, I did have one special sightseeing request: visiting the Venice Canals. This neighborhood has canals instead of roads, designed to mirror those in its much more famous counterpart, Venice, Italy. On a sunny Friday, Kathleen and I wandered the pathways, snapping photos and trying to decide which adorable home we would want to be ours. Because, you guys – if I’m ever a millionaire, I’m moving here.