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Amy Chen

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Solo Trip 2016: Seattle (Part 3/4)

August 19, 2016

Seattle is the most popular connection for all domestic Alaska flights - so naturally, because I had never been to Seattle before - I decided to make the most of that inevitable stop. It was a similar experience to the one I had back in San Francisco because I was only there for a short time (1 day), and in that short time I tried to pack in seeing, doing, and eating as much as humanly possible. 

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In wanderlust Tags solo trip 2016, solo travel, travel, seattle, washington
amy_chen_design_alaska_1.jpg

Solo Trip 2016: Alaska (Part 2/4)

August 12, 2016

After San Francisco, it was off to ALASKA! Earlier, I talked about why I took this trip - and having this strong desire to stretch my comfort zone. Alaska did just that (and so much more). It was pretty ballsy (for me) to travel there solo, but it was truly a life changing experience.

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In wanderlust Tags solo trip 2016, solo travel, travel, alaska, anchorage, seward, palmer

Solo Trip 2016: San Francisco - (Part 1/4)

July 29, 2016

My first stop on my solo trip itinerary was San Francisco! I had never been to California before (this was my first time) - and I am SO glad I chose San Francisco to be my first "taste" of CA. I only had one day here, and I certainly packed in as much as humanly possible, (in true "amyventures" fashion). ;)

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In wanderlust Tags solo trip 2016, solo travel, travel, san francisco, california

Real Talk: Why You Need to Go On That Solo Trip RN (And Some Tips On How To Do It)

July 22, 2016

Hello... it's me! *cue Adele*

I know it's been quite awhile since you've heard from me on here, but I am BACK!! (and have so much to tell you!)

For the last couple months, I've been in quite a rut - feeling stuck and unsure what my next move should be. I felt uninspired, and lost my motivation / desire to write and generally create. Although for awhile I did stick to publishing one post a week - that trailed off when I felt I wasn't producing valuable content for you guys anymore. Instead of forcing myself to crank stuff out that I wasn't feeling or beating myself up for going off course, I took the time to acknowledge what my body needed - a damn break. I knew I was at the point of really needing to take a leap of faith of some kind. I took it upon myself to do something I've never done before: take a solo trip. It's been something I've been wanting to do since graduating over 2 years ago, and I finally scraped together enough money (and guts) to do it for myself. And I'm SO glad I did - because the experience was LIFE CHANGING.

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In real talk, wanderlust Tags travel, solo travel, solo trip 2016

A Spontaneous Sunday in Montauk

February 24, 2016

This past weekend, I trekked out to Long Island for a spontaneous getaway with some good friends. The weather forecast was supposed to be great and uncharacteristically warm for February (60 degrees) - unlike last weekend - so we took full advantage and drove out to Montauk on Sunday! I had been there before - a couple summers back - but had never been during the off season. It was such a last minute plan - but I'm so glad that we made it happen!

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In wanderlust Tags Montauk, Long Island, NY, Camp Hero State Park

Best of 2015 / Happy 2016!

January 1, 2016

HAPPY 2016!

Like everyone else on the planet rn, I'm taking a moment to look back on 2015 - I can't believe that it's over! It's crazy how fast time flies.. and naturally, it's a time to take a moment and reflect on "what was" and speculate "what will be."

Today, I wanted to quickly drop in and share some of my favorite posts from the year. 2015 was my first full year of blogging, and that's something I'm personally pretty proud of! While I may not have completed all of my 2015 resolutions (let's be real.. who has?), I'm glad that I stayed committed to regularly writing / creating blog posts. As I've mentioned before, a lot of time and energy goes into running a blog - and it's really nice to look back and see the year's content all in one place. These posts by no means cover every single thing that's happened to me in 2015, but I think they create a nice highlight reel:

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In design, diy, food, real talk, style, wanderlust, photography Tags 2016, New Year's, archive, 2015, happy new year

Museum of Feelings + Stars by Stella Artois

December 18, 2015

Last Saturday, I went to two incredible interactive installations: the Museum of Feelings (sponsored by Glade) and Stars (sponsored by Stella Artois).

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In wanderlust Tags Museum of Feelings, Stars, Stella Artois, interactive art, NY, NYC, #GiveBeautifully

Riamede Farm

November 20, 2015

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already next week - where did November go?! 

Today I just wanted to drop in and do a "photo dump" from a recent trip to one of our local farms: Riamede Farm. I visited back during October, but haven't gotten around to sharing on the blog until now!

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In wanderlust Tags Riamede Farm, NJ, New Jersey, Chester, autumn

#StudioDIYWallCrawl Collab: NYC Street Art

November 6, 2015

I recently collaborated with Kelly of Studio DIY for her #StudioDIYWallCrawl series to create a guide of my favorite NYC murals - and this week the post is LIVE! Head on over HERE for the full map that covers both Brooklyn and the Lower East Side!

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In wanderlust, photography Tags Kelly Mindell, studioDIYwallcrawl, Studio DIY, NY, NYC, street art, collab

Dan Flavin at David Zwirner

October 16, 2015

This past weekend I went to see Dan Flavin's "Corners, Barriers, and Corridors" show at the David Zwirner gallery in NYC. The DZ gallery is one of my favorites in Chelsea, and they always seem to have the best exhibitions going on. I've been to two great Yayoi Kusama shows hosted by DZ in the last few years, and when I heard Dan Flavin was going to have an exclusive show there - I could not get my butt to the gallery faster! ;)

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In wanderlust Tags Dan Flavin, David Zwirner, NY, NYC, gallery hopping, gallery, art, interactive art, colorventures
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AMYVENTURES

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design, diy, food, photography, real talk, sustainability,
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POPULAR POSTS

Blog
A Peek Behind the (Photobooth) Curtain with Autophoto
A Peek Behind the (Photobooth) Curtain with Autophoto
about a month ago
The Summer It Turned Yummy
The Summer It Turned Yummy
about 5 months ago
Recess in Cape May
Recess in Cape May
about 8 months ago
Strawberry Picking, Peony Peeping, Park Frolicking
Strawberry Picking, Peony Peeping, Park Frolicking
about 9 months ago
Spring Things
Spring Things
about 10 months ago
Cemetery Season: Poetry Month + The Grief of April
Cemetery Season: Poetry Month + The Grief of April
about 11 months ago
Solo Day Trip to Seaside Heights
Solo Day Trip to Seaside Heights
about 11 months ago
Reframing a "Mundane Chore" as an Adventure: Visiting a New Grocery Store
Reframing a "Mundane Chore" as an Adventure: Visiting a New Grocery Store
about 11 months ago
Creating In Community
Creating In Community
about 12 months ago
A Sunny Sunday for the Soul in NYC
A Sunny Sunday for the Soul in NYC
about a year ago

INSTAGRAM

@AMYVENTURES
chinese new year / lunar new year highlights ๐Ÿงง๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿด๐Ÿ”ฅ๐ŸŽŠ๐ŸŒ• 

@welcome.to.chinatown lny market at @kamman.canal 

lny spongie (apricot orange) from @spongiescafe 

lo bok go (turnip cake), fa gao (steamed cupcake), and flat rice noodles at home

painte
matcha shortbread cookies dusted in powdered sugar, drizzled with white chocolate, and sprinkled with crushed freeze dried strawberries ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿตโญ๏ธ๐Ÿ“โœจ

#shortbreadcookies #matchastrawberry #matchawhitechocolate #matchacookies #bakersgonnabake
my galentine spread from last weekend’s junk journal meet up with @artsncraftsnyc at @bananas_nyc ๐Ÿ’˜๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’Œโค๏ธ๐Ÿ’•โœจ

if you’re going to tonight’s event, have the best time! ๐Ÿ˜˜

#galentines #valentinesday #junkjournal #scrapbooking #things
valentine sweet treat round up ๐Ÿ˜˜โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’•
- chocolate orange marmalade linzer cookies (regretted not making more of these for christmas so made them again ๐Ÿ˜)
- chocolate covered pretzels & strawberries ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฅจ๐Ÿซ (annual classics)
- sweet potato peanut
a peek behind the (photobooth) curtain last week at @autophoto w/ @lomographyusa ๐Ÿ“ธ♥๏ธ๐ŸŽž๏ธ

was thrilled that the color paper (discontinued in 2005) was still available in the MTV model 21 booth ๐ŸŒˆ (since then, it’s run out again and is ba
a very snowy and cold second half of january ๐Ÿฅถโ„๏ธ still getting out for our daily walks the best we can ๐Ÿ˜…, but my knees will be thrilled when this all melts ๐Ÿ’€ savoring hot drinks and soup and couch snuggles til further notice ๐Ÿ™ƒ

#january #winter #
a very fun โœจgirls dayโœจ / joint birthday celebration with @rebeccaedenphoto and @sarabryn ๐Ÿฅณ๐ŸŽˆ๐ŸŽ‚

@12.matcha - for matcha lattes (duh), matcha / hojicha / mango ice cream, and yuzu madeleine ๐Ÿต
@liz.christy.garden - was so surprised to see the snowdro
a look back on 2025 through my junk journal (I finally finished the last few holiday spreads last night ๐ŸŽ€) - I’ve kept written journals my whole life, but this was my first full year of journaling in this format, and it is really fun to flip t
this year’s christmas cookies officially wrapped ๐Ÿช๐ŸŽ€โœจ each year I feel like I’m always refining the line up ๐Ÿ˜ this year included:

- classic gingerbread 
- brown butter salted chocolate chunk
- peppermint chocolate s’more
- chewy
the most beautiful post-christmas snow day ๐Ÿฅนโ„๏ธโœจ

#snowday #jerseycollective #njinbloom
last weekend’s snow day itinerary in nyc โ„๏ธ

1-3 @rockefellercenter tree & fountains were so magical dusted in snow ๐Ÿฅน
4-5 @radiocitymusichall for #rockettes100 ๐Ÿ’ƒ
6-9 @newyorkpalace - be sure to stop into the lobby and see the gingerbread
sunday is for sweet treats ๐Ÿ˜ (especially when nothing else is open yet in the morning ๐Ÿ˜…) 

โ˜ƒ๏ธ @chachamatcha peppermint matcha lattes (hot & iced)
๐Ÿฅ @libraebakery halvah chocolate croissant (cut in halvah to share)
๐Ÿ™ƒ @supermoonbakehouse scalli
chinese new year / lunar new year highlights ๐Ÿงง๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿด๐Ÿ”ฅ๐ŸŽŠ๐ŸŒ• 

@welcome.to.chinatown lny market at @kamman.canal 

lny spongie (apricot orange) from @spongiescafe 

lo bok go (turnip cake), fa gao (steamed cupcake), and flat rice noodles at home

painte matcha shortbread cookies dusted in powdered sugar, drizzled with white chocolate, and sprinkled with crushed freeze dried strawberries ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿตโญ๏ธ๐Ÿ“โœจ

#shortbreadcookies #matchastrawberry #matchawhitechocolate #matchacookies #bakersgonnabake
the second blizzard of the month just when we were starting to see the grass again ๐Ÿฅฒ it’s pretty, but I’m desperately longing for warmer days ๐Ÿ˜…๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ luckily @mrsmeyerscleanday rose room freshener is making the inside of our cozy abode sm
can’t wait for the snow to be higher than my boots again ๐Ÿฅฒ

#dogwalkersofinstagram #dogwalking #dogwalkinglife #olympics #milanocortina2026
happy year of the horse! ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿด๐Ÿงง๐ŸŽŠ๐Ÿฎ took a little time to myself to decompress and celebrate chinese new year by painting this year’s chinese zodiac animal (the horse) ๐ŸŽจ - I started this project last year with the snake ๐Ÿ… should I sti
my galentine spread from last weekend’s junk journal meet up with @artsncraftsnyc at @bananas_nyc ๐Ÿ’˜๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’Œโค๏ธ๐Ÿ’•โœจ

if you’re going to tonight’s event, have the best time! ๐Ÿ˜˜

#galentines #valentinesday #junkjournal #scrapbooking #things valentine sweet treat round up ๐Ÿ˜˜โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’•
- chocolate orange marmalade linzer cookies (regretted not making more of these for christmas so made them again ๐Ÿ˜)
- chocolate covered pretzels & strawberries ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฅจ๐Ÿซ (annual classics)
- sweet potato peanut
long overdue desk deep clean with @mrsmeyerscleanday’s dewdrop ๐Ÿ˜Œ has me dreaming of spring and warmer days ๐Ÿ’ง๐ŸŒฟโœจ #mrsmeyerspartner
a peek behind the (photobooth) curtain last week at @autophoto w/ @lomographyusa ๐Ÿ“ธ♥๏ธ๐ŸŽž๏ธ

was thrilled that the color paper (discontinued in 2005) was still available in the MTV model 21 booth ๐ŸŒˆ (since then, it’s run out again and is ba a very snowy and cold second half of january ๐Ÿฅถโ„๏ธ still getting out for our daily walks the best we can ๐Ÿ˜…, but my knees will be thrilled when this all melts ๐Ÿ’€ savoring hot drinks and soup and couch snuggles til further notice ๐Ÿ™ƒ

#january #winter # a very fun โœจgirls dayโœจ / joint birthday celebration with @rebeccaedenphoto and @sarabryn ๐Ÿฅณ๐ŸŽˆ๐ŸŽ‚

@12.matcha - for matcha lattes (duh), matcha / hojicha / mango ice cream, and yuzu madeleine ๐Ÿต
@liz.christy.garden - was so surprised to see the snowdro
love a good rainy day to deep clean the kitchen ๐Ÿซง๐Ÿ˜Œ๐ŸŒง๏ธ๐Ÿงผโœจ … can’t remember the last time the sink was free from dirty dishes or the counter was this spotless ๐Ÿ˜… - thanks @mrsmeyerscleanday for the assist (and making the house smell like
a look back on 2025 through my junk journal (I finally finished the last few holiday spreads last night ๐ŸŽ€) - I’ve kept written journals my whole life, but this was my first full year of journaling in this format, and it is really fun to flip t this year’s christmas cookies officially wrapped ๐Ÿช๐ŸŽ€โœจ each year I feel like I’m always refining the line up ๐Ÿ˜ this year included:

- classic gingerbread 
- brown butter salted chocolate chunk
- peppermint chocolate s’more
- chewy the most beautiful post-christmas snow day ๐Ÿฅนโ„๏ธโœจ

#snowday #jerseycollective #njinbloom
do you want the cookie box tour? ๐Ÿ˜˜๐Ÿช๐ŸŽ€

#christmascookies #holidaybaking #cookiebox
last weekend’s snow day itinerary in nyc โ„๏ธ

1-3 @rockefellercenter tree & fountains were so magical dusted in snow ๐Ÿฅน
4-5 @radiocitymusichall for #rockettes100 ๐Ÿ’ƒ
6-9 @newyorkpalace - be sure to stop into the lobby and see the gingerbread
nothing more magical than nyc at christmas time in the snow ๐Ÿฅน๐Ÿ™๏ธโ„๏ธ๐ŸŽ„๐ŸฆŒโœจโ˜•๏ธ 

#rockettes100 #rockefellerchristmastree #nycchristmas radio city music hall, rockettes, rockefeller center, bryant park, macys, no chewing allowed hot cocoa
Christmas crafting with @takearecess craft mocktail peppermint bark’tini โœ‚๏ธ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿฅ‚๐ŸŽ€โœจ

15% off with code “amyventures”

https://app.devotion.club/brand/recess/amyventures

#origamitutorial #christmascraft #origamiart diy christmas deco
sunday is for sweet treats ๐Ÿ˜ (especially when nothing else is open yet in the morning ๐Ÿ˜…) 

โ˜ƒ๏ธ @chachamatcha peppermint matcha lattes (hot & iced)
๐Ÿฅ @libraebakery halvah chocolate croissant (cut in halvah to share)
๐Ÿ™ƒ @supermoonbakehouse scalli

All photos / content were created solely for / by
Amy Chen (unless otherwise stated). If you decide to reference anything from my blog / website, please give proper credit. Thank you! :)


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