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Amy Chen

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I have a habit of hoarding all print collateral / entry tickets / etc. whenever I go to events / exhibitions ... #designerhoardingproblems 

I have a habit of hoarding all print collateral / entry tickets / etc. whenever I go to events / exhibitions ... #designerhoardingproblems 

Storm King & Jeff Koons

October 16, 2014

This is my first art / design related post on my blog – and after a month of blogging, I think it’s long overdue haha. This past weekend, my family drove through upstate NY, and I got the chance to finally experience the wonderland that is Storm King Art Center. It’s been on my “places to see” list for a little while now, and I keep hearing / seeing good things about it from multiple sources (mostly Instagram because… let’s be real: that’s my main source of *news*). The Jeff Koons exhibit is something I saw about 3 weeks ago at The Whitney (in Manhattan, NY) but never wrote a post about. The exhibit is the last to be hosted at the Madison Ave Whitney location before it relocates in the spring to somewhere in the Meatpacking District. I made it my mission to be sure to see it, and that was one of the reasons why. Both of these trips could have easily been separate blog posts, but since the Jeff Koons exhibit is winding down, I figured I would include it with my most recent venture to Storm King. Both of these exhibits have to do with sculpture – and while that isn’t what I studied in school - it’s one of my favorite fine art fields to go out and see. This may or may not have to do with my love for dimensional design in my own (graphic design) work. I love the interactivity of sculpture; you can’t “walk around” a flat painting to observe different angles like you can with a 3D piece. Sculpture is also affected by light and shadows – which is recipe for epic photos ;) I took a bajillion (photos) during both trips, so brace yourselves. 

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In design, wanderlust Tags sculpture, Storm King, Jeff Koons, The Whitney, NY, art

Schooley's Mountain

October 9, 2014

This place has been begging for a blog entry since before I even started blogging. I discovered Schooley’s Mountain Park this summer, about a month ago – when I was researching new local places to explore. My parents / younger brother aren’t as adventuresome as I am … (I’m basically the alien of the family), so this place (among many other nearby places) have never been explored despite living here all my life. Spending 4 years at school in NYC had me conditioned (aka spoiled) to go out and do things every chance I had because the city always had something going on. After graduating and coming back home, I missed that thrill – and was determined to find “hidden gems” of suburban NJ. This is by far the best gem I found this summer, and I think it currently holds the spot of “favorite happy place” in my heart. I often come here now on the weekends with my mom, but I’ve only taken two solo trips to the park: September 2 and yesterday (October 8). Those 2 solo trips were by far the best – and take the cake.

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In wanderlust Tags hiking, Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey, overlook, waterfall

Apple Bread

September 29, 2014

Last Friday I baked apple bread for the first time ever. I’ve made many variations of banana bread before, but I’ve never even heard of apple bread until I started researching quick/easy apple recipes last week. I went apple-picking recently, and I have been wanting to bake something with the apples since bringing them home from the farm. They basically have been sitting in a box in the kitchen begging for me to bake something yummy with them. My first thoughts involved attempting a salted caramel apple pie because I’ve also never baked an apple pie before… but my lazy ass didn’t feel like it. I feel like you really have to be in the mood to commit time into making the perfect pie, and I guess I wasn’t feelin’ it last Friday. I made my first pie ever this summer (a blueberry pie), and it was fun and delicious and everything, but it took me the span of 3 days to make it between getting all the ingredients, making the dough from scratch, letting the dough set in the fridge, prepping the filling, cutting / weaving the lattices, and then FINALLY putting it in the oven. It was a lot of work – work that my lazy ass didn’t feel like doing at the end of last week. I do want to attempt an apple pie some day, but last Friday was not that day. Let’s be real – we all have our lazy days. Maybe I’ll feel more motivated for a special occasion … (Thanksgiving, mayhaps?)

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In food Tags apples, apple picking, baking, fall, autumn, recipe, apple bread, food styling, prop styling
amy_chen_design_alstede_farms_1

An Afternoon at Alstede

September 22, 2014

Yesterday, I spent an afternoon at Alstede Farms (Chester, NJ) – and it was seriously the best day. It was the perfect mix of food and adventure, so it was right up my alley. ;)

The leaves in New Jersey are starting to change colors, and the air is finally getting crisper and cooler. Fall is my favorite season, and it’s finally arrived! I’ve never been to Alstede before, and can’t believe my family has never gone since we only live about 20 minutes away. While I was there, I overheard people talking about how they had come from hours and hours away. After spending the afternoon there, I totally don’t blame them for coming from so far away. It’s absolutely worth it.

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In food, wanderlust Tags fall, apple picking, pick your own, PYO, CSA, organic, farming, eat local, clean eating, New Jersey, Chester, agriculture, jersey fresh, corn, harvest, farm, Alstede Farms, eat clean, butterfly, monarch butterfly, donkey, healthy eating, pumpkin picking, pumpkins, pumpkin patch, fruits, veggies, farmland, sunflower, ice cream, doughnut, peacock, pig
amy_chen_design_guacamole.JPG

MY GO-TO GUACAMOLE RECIPE

September 16, 2014

I wasn’t planning to write my second blog entry so soon, but today is a very special and important day: National Guacamole Day – so I made an exception! 

Guac is one of my favorite things to both make and eat. It’s easy to make and also healthy for you – what more could ya ask for? It’s something I taught myself how to make through experimenting and made often while I was away at college. I've made it on my desk multiple times when other people were in the kitchen LOL - no need for fancy facilities or tools! ;)

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In food Tags food, guacamole, national guacamole day, guac, noms
A fortune I opened the day after starting this blog; I shit you not. 

A fortune I opened the day after starting this blog; I shit you not. 

What are YOU waiting for?

September 15, 2014

Today’s the day. I’ve decided I FINALLY, actually, seriously, really am going to start a blog. It is something I have contemplated for months and months… and I am finally taking the damn plunge. I’ve thought about it so many times before, and I constantly made excuses and put it off. What is the “theme” of my blog going to be? What will I name it? Will anyone really read it? Will anyone care? Am I a good enough writer? The whole world is going to judge the shit out of me. I’m going to wait until I have a full-time steady job. I’m going to wait until I have my own apartment so I have a prettier interior to photograph. I’m going to wait until I have things to blog about. I’m going to wait until people know who I am. No more waiting.

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In real talk Tags Austin Kleon, Show Your Work!, blog, motivation
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A Peek Behind the (Photobooth) Curtain with Autophoto
A Peek Behind the (Photobooth) Curtain with Autophoto
about 6 months ago
The Summer It Turned Yummy
The Summer It Turned Yummy
about 10 months ago
Recess in Cape May
Recess in Cape May
about a year ago
Strawberry Picking, Peony Peeping, Park Frolicking
Strawberry Picking, Peony Peeping, Park Frolicking
about a year ago
Spring Things
Spring Things
about a year ago
Cemetery Season: Poetry Month + The Grief of April
Cemetery Season: Poetry Month + The Grief of April
about a year ago
Solo Day Trip to Seaside Heights
Solo Day Trip to Seaside Heights
about a year 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 a year ago
Creating In Community
Creating In Community
about a year ago
A Sunny Sunday for the Soul in NYC
A Sunny Sunday for the Soul in NYC
about a year ago

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@AMYVENTURES
“design is dead” they said, so @figma threw a funeral last weekend 💀💐🪦

we were asked to select a colored flower from the overflowing buckets on the sidewalk, then stood in line waiting for our turn to place it on the “casket.&rd
union square farmer’s market - forever & always one of my favorite places to watch the seasons change 🥹 late spring / early summer is so sweet 🍓🌸 @grownycgreenmarket 

#unionsquaregreenmarket #unionsquarenyc #farmersmarket #strawberrysea
finally got to try @koke.nyc yesterday 🤭 everything on the menu is vegan AND gluten free 👏 (love to see it 😍)

what we ordered:
🌸 sakura matcha lattes (seasonal special - today is the last day to grab one before summer’s menu drops tomorrow
the sweetest little sight on the soccer field the other day 🥹🦌🌾

from a distance, I thought it was a piece of cardboard / trash and approached because I was going to pick it up 😅 when I realized it was a fawn, I thought maybe it was hurt or aband
from a walk at willowwood last month 🌸🌳🌞 stopped for a rainbow sprinkle cone from @taylorsicecreamparlor after 🍦 

#willowwoodarboretum #chesternj #jerseycollective #northjerseyadventures #springblooms
the most stunning double petal tulips from @wildroseflowerco brightened up my week 😍🌷❤️💛 and some photos from her first ever plant & seed swap last weekend at high view farm 🌱 the stand is open today if you’re in the area! 💐

PS: goats
planet earth (hallelujah) 🌎🌸🌞🌷✨

#earthday #frelinghuysenarboretum #jerseycollective #njisallgood #northjerseyadventures
sunshine on a cloudy day today at @thelilliehouse’s third annual plant swap 🌧️🌷👩🏻‍🌾🌼🌱

shared some seeds I had saved from my own garden last year as well as some irises I dug up yesterday. the calendula seeds are descendants of @long
april, when did you get so hot? 🥵 easter eve in PA felt more like summer than it did spring (very much like this week in NJ 🫠) - which called for a double scoop cone from @premisemaid 🍦 they have the BEST homemade waffle cones 👌 I got a scoop of
passenger princessing in pennsylvania easter weekend ✌️🦢🌸🌳📸

#pennsylvania #easterweekend #passengerprincess #joyspotting #passengerseatphotography
dinner at @am_thainyc 🇹🇭🥘🍜🔥 cozy & casual with friendly service and lots of vegan & gluten free friendly options 😋

we ordered the pad thai & the green curry 🌶️ and also thai iced teas (one traditional and one infused with pandan)
more curious than afraid, this deer started walking towards us (instead of freezing up or fleeing) - she even started to follow us for a bit onto the path after we walked past 🥹 I’ve always thought Sparkle’s coloring was very deer-like f
“design is dead” they said, so @figma threw a funeral last weekend 💀💐🪦

we were asked to select a colored flower from the overflowing buckets on the sidewalk, then stood in line waiting for our turn to place it on the “casket.&rd
cozy, casual, and colorful is my favorite way to get dressed 💁🏻‍♀️🌈💖

💜 crewneck - @bigbudpress
🕶️ sunnies - @eyebuydirect 
🥰 bucket bag & bag charm - @verloopknits (10% off your order with code “amyventures”)

#colorfulsty
union square farmer’s market - forever & always one of my favorite places to watch the seasons change 🥹 late spring / early summer is so sweet 🍓🌸 @grownycgreenmarket 

#unionsquaregreenmarket #unionsquarenyc #farmersmarket #strawberrysea finally got to try @koke.nyc yesterday 🤭 everything on the menu is vegan AND gluten free 👏 (love to see it 😍)

what we ordered:
🌸 sakura matcha lattes (seasonal special - today is the last day to grab one before summer’s menu drops tomorrow the sweetest little sight on the soccer field the other day 🥹🦌🌾

from a distance, I thought it was a piece of cardboard / trash and approached because I was going to pick it up 😅 when I realized it was a fawn, I thought maybe it was hurt or aband
strawberry rhubarb pie for a rainy mdw baking project 🥧🍓😋 thanks for the most beautiful rhubarb @stonyhillfarms 😍

recipe from @bromabakery 🫶

#strawberryrhubarb #strawberryrhubarbpie #mdw #strawberryseason #rhubarb
#sweetgreen_partner @sweetgreen lunch with my dad today (who hadn’t even heard of sweetgreen before 😆) he liked #sweetgreenwraps so much he’s thinking about going back tomorrow 🤭🌯 

#lunchbreak #tastetest #sweetgreen
from a walk at willowwood last month 🌸🌳🌞 stopped for a rainbow sprinkle cone from @taylorsicecreamparlor after 🍦 

#willowwoodarboretum #chesternj #jerseycollective #northjerseyadventures #springblooms
@sweetgreen #sweetgreen_partner lunch outside today 🤗🌯🌞 tried two of the newest #sweetgreenwraps - chicken jalapeño ranch & saucy kbbq chicken (subbing tofu in to make them vegetarian 🙌) they were both delicious, but can you guess whic
the most stunning double petal tulips from @wildroseflowerco brightened up my week 😍🌷❤️💛 and some photos from her first ever plant & seed swap last weekend at high view farm 🌱 the stand is open today if you’re in the area! 💐

PS: goats
might not look like much now, but this is how it all begins 🙃💭👩🏻‍🌾🍅🌻🐾✨

are you growing a garden this year? what are you most excited for? 🌱

#gardening #gardenstate #jerseycollective #backyardgardening #rescueismyfavoritebreed
@sweetgreen #sweetgreen_partner a little saturday recap mini vlog 👩🏻‍🌾🌸🌱 the itinerary: a morning walk at the arboretum, a quick grab and go lunch trying the new #sweetgreenwraps, a community plant / seed swap, and a stop at a garden center
getting ready to welcome the month of may with dew drop and dandelion💧🌼

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what I expected @mrsmeyerscleanday’s newest scented oil diffuser in dandelion to smell like 😅 but it’s pleasantly bright
planet earth (hallelujah) 🌎🌸🌞🌷✨

#earthday #frelinghuysenarboretum #jerseycollective #njisallgood #northjerseyadventures sunshine on a cloudy day today at @thelilliehouse’s third annual plant swap 🌧️🌷👩🏻‍🌾🌼🌱

shared some seeds I had saved from my own garden last year as well as some irises I dug up yesterday. the calendula seeds are descendants of @long
10/10 recommend staying at the park through a rain shower 🥹 it made all the people flee and it was just me, the birds, and the blossoms for a little bit 🐦🌸🌧️

the last clip was from last year - the trees were so much fluffier and fuller. the heat
april, when did you get so hot? 🥵 easter eve in PA felt more like summer than it did spring (very much like this week in NJ 🫠) - which called for a double scoop cone from @premisemaid 🍦 they have the BEST homemade waffle cones 👌 I got a scoop of passenger princessing in pennsylvania easter weekend ✌️🦢🌸🌳📸

#pennsylvania #easterweekend #passengerprincess #joyspotting #passengerseatphotography dinner at @am_thainyc 🇹🇭🥘🍜🔥 cozy & casual with friendly service and lots of vegan & gluten free friendly options 😋

we ordered the pad thai & the green curry 🌶️ and also thai iced teas (one traditional and one infused with pandan)

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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